0  PLAYS  OF  ISRAEL 

.DAVID  OF  BETHLEHEM 
MARY  MAGDALEN 

By  FLORENCE  WILKINSON 


TWO   PLAYS   OF   ISRAEL 


TWO   PLAYS   OF   ISRAEL 

DAVID    OF   BETHLEHEM 

MARY   MAGDALEN 

BY 

FLORENCE   WILKINSON 


NEW  YORK 

McCLURE,   PHILLIPS  £  CO. 
MCMIV 


" 


Copyright,  1904,  *>V 
FLORENCE  WILKINSON 


Published,  May,  1904,  N 


DAVID   OF   BETHLEHEM 


SYNOPSIS     OF     SCENES 

ACT  ONE 

SCENE  :  The  Well  of  Bethlehem. 

ACT  TWO 

SCENE  I :  The  Garden  at  Gibeah. 
SCENE  II :  Witch  of  Endor's  House. 

ACT  THREE 
SCENE  :  Room  in  Saul's  Palace. 

ACT  FOUR 

SCENE  I :  The  Tabernacle. 
SCENE  II :  Cave  of  Adullam. 

ACT  FIVE 

SCENE  :  The  Walls  of  Gath. 


M166451 


PERSONS 

DAVID 

SAUL 

AHINOAM 

JONATHAN 

MERAB 

MICHAL 

JESSE 

DAVID'S  MOTHER 

ELIAB  \ 

ABINADAB  (- Brothers  of  DAVID 

SHAMMAH ) 

SAMUEL 

ADRIEL 

PHALTIEL 

DOEG 

BITHIAH 

AMASA    )  r  T^ 

I  Nephews  of  DAVID 

ASAHEL  j  " 

AGAG King  of  Amalek 

HURAI 
ELEAZER 

ACHISH King  of  Gath 

WITCH  OF  ENDOR 

ASSHUR      ........     A  priest 

EGLAH A  Philistine  woman 

Youths,  Maidens,  Courtiers,  Servants,  Heralds, 
Priests,  Levites,  Philistines,  Israelites. 


ACT   I 

SCENE  I :  A  sweep  of  hill-side  in  the  country. 
David's  well,  stone-coped,  is  in  the  shade  of  a  great 
oak-tree.  In  the  distance  are  the  receding  blue 
ranges.  The  white-roofed  village  of  Bethlehem 
with  its  surrounding  walls  is  glimpsed  in  a  fold  of 
the  hills.  A  wooded  path,  L,  with  one  practical 
exit  back-stage.  Two  exits  right.  1  E  R  lead 
ing  up  the  mountain  and  continued  on  the  scene  to 
give  the  effect  of  great  distance.  2  E  R  past  a 
palm-tree  to  Bethlehem. 

A  triumphal  procession  enters  from  L. 

FIRST    HERALD 

coming  from  L  alone 
Prepare  ye  the  way  ! 

He  blows  on  a  silver  trumpet. 

SECOND    HERALD 

blowing  on  his  trumpet 
Prepare  ye  the  way  ! 

[5] 


,,  ;  :  ,;     :;       EAVID.  OF    BETHLEHEM 

FIRST    YOUTH 
He  hath  smitten  the  enemies  of  Jehovah. 

SECOND    YOUTH 
He  hath  laid  low  them  that  put  us  to  scorn. 

PROCESSION    OF   YOUTHS      chanting 
He  hath  scattered  them, 
Like  grass  of  the  field  they  are  withered, 
Like  flowers  they  are  brought  to  nought. 

HERALDS 

Prepare  ye  the  way  ! 

Shouting  heard  in  distance.  Two  snow-white 
oxen,  garlanded,  form  part  of  the  procession  that 
now  enters  from  L.  Do  EG  leads  them.  Soldiers 
as  from  the  field  of  battle.  Shouting  and  huzzas. 

YOUTHS  chanting 

He  hath  brought  the  enemy  to  nought. 
He  hath  put  him  in  subjection. 
Lo,  even  to  the  gates  of  Gibeah  doth  he  come  nigh, 
And  he  who  troubled  Israel  weareth  the  yoke. 

ALL 
Huzza,  huzza ! 

HERALDS 

Prepare  ye  the  way  ! 

[6] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SOLDIERS 

Saul,  Saul ! 

Enter  soldiers  bearing  glittering  burdens,  spoil  from 
the  conquered.  AGAG  the  captive  king  comes  last, 
bound  in  chains  and  alone,  a  sullen,  wolfish  man. 
As  he  appears,  all  utter  cries  of  derision.  The 
procession  is  now  at  rest,  massed  up-stage. 

AGACr  standing  alone 

Ye  dogs  of  Israel ! 

A  soldier  silences  him  with  threatening  gesture. 
Two  young  lads,  clad  in  white,  bearing  banners 
with  device  of  BENJAMIN,  run  lightly  across  the 
foreground.  Applause.  The  people  fall  back, 
forming  a  hollow  square. 

ADRIEL     a  courtly  exquisite 
Behold,  our  king ! 

DOEG 

A  red-bearded,  crafty  man 
The  c-conqueror. 

PEOPLE 

Saul,  Saul,  all  hail ! 

Enter  L  SAUL  and  JONATHAN.     SAUL  is  a  kingly 

figure  of  great  stature,  with  unfathomable  melon- 

[7] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

choly  in  his  look.  JONATHAN  a  frank,  simple 
youth. 

DOEG 
The  p- prince  beloved  ! 

PEOPLE 

Saul  and  Jonathan  !     Jonathan  and  Saul !     All 
hail! 

AGAG 

Howling  hyenas  : 

People  utter  menacing  cries,  start  forward. 

SAUL  raising  his  hand 

Peace,   leave  him    alone !     Has   he   not   suffered 

enough  ? 

Enter  L  AHINOAM,  SAUL'S  wife,  MERAB  and 
MICHAL  his  daughters,  and  BITHIAH  their  Ethio 
pian  serving-maid.  Greetings  pass  between  them 
and  SAUL  and  JONATHAN.  They  stand  in  a  group 
c  down-stage.  JONATHAN  and  MICHAL  linked  arm 
in  arm.  ADRIEL  by  MERAB  his  wife,  and  SAUL  and 
AHINOAM  together. 

SAUL 
Here  shall   we  rest  and   wait    for   the   prophet 

Samuel. 

People  utter  cries  of  dissatisfaction. 
[8] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

AHINOAM 

A  proud  woman  of  scornful  mien,  with  Up  habit 
ually  curled. 
Why  do  the  people  murmur  ? 

VOICES 
A  sacrifice,  a  sacrifice  ! 

AHINOAM  to  SAUL 

You  shall  be  our  high  priest. 

SAUL 

Jehovah  forbid  !     Far  be  it  from  me  to  stand  in 
the  prophet's  place. 

AHINOAM  to  JONATHAN 

Beseech  your  father  that  he  make  the  sacrifice. 

JONATHAN 
It  is  forbidden  him,  mother. 

MICHAL 

She  is  a  wild  timid  dark-eyed  creature,  half  gazelle, 
half  leopard  in  her  couchant  intensity. 
It  is  for  Samuel  the  prophet. 

AHINOAM 

Victory  is  ours.     It  is  also  ours  to  celebrate. 
The  people  show  signs  of  uneasiness,  swaying  back 
ward  and  forward  and  murmuring  among  them 
selves. 

[9] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

VOICE 

Saul  is  afraid. 

AHINOAM 

scoffingly  to  SAUL 

It  may  be  the  gray-beard  prophet  is  asleep,  for 
he  is  old  and  weary. 

AGAG 

taking  advantage  of  the  confusion 
Starved  jackals ! 

AHINOAM 

Or  mayhap  he  hath  stumbled,  for  his  feet  are  in 
firm. 

MEBAB 

She  is  MICHAL'S  older  sister,  with  a  wealth  of  ruddy 
beauty  and  a  placid  abundance  of  good-will. 
The  flowers  are  withering. 

ADRIEL 
Soon  the  sun  will  set. 

AHINOAM  to  SAUL 

My  lord,  the  people  murmur. 

DOEG 

My  lord,  shall  we  order  an  altar  built  up  ? 
[10] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL 

Is  it  not  enough  that  I  have  brought  them  cattle 
and  sheep  and  also  Agag,  the  King  of  the 
Amalekites  ?  What  will  they  beside  ? 

PEOPLE 
An  altar,  an  altar  ! 

AHINOAM 

Saul,  take  courage,  for  you  are  king  and  con 
queror.      Build  up  an  altar  and  sacrifice. 
The  people  fling  up  their  arms  in  approval. 

JONATHAN 

Wait  but  a  little  while. 

MICHAL 

Father,  you  are  so  great  and  the  victory  is  so 
great,  cannot  they  have  patience  ? 

JONATHAN 

My  father,  you  are  forbidden  to  sacrifice. 

SAUL 

And  who  is  he  that  should  lay  commandment  upon 
me  ?  Build  ye  then  an  altar  ! 

DOEG 

repeating  the  command  to  the  soldiers 
Build  ye  an  altar. 

[in 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

Soldiers  run  hither  and  thither  heaping  stones. 
The  two  young  men  stand  behind  with  banners. 
Youths  heapjlowers. 

MICHAL  to  her  father 

Father,  my  father,  I  fear  that  this  is  a  wrong  and 
Jehovah  will  not  forget. 

SAUL  to  MICHAL 

Take  your  hand  from  off  my  robe.     Let  the  burnt 
offering  be  placed  upon  the  altar. 

DOEG 

So  be  it,  my  lord. 

Smoke  arises  from  the  altar  as  SAUL  stands  beside 
it. 

VOICE 
And  is  Saul  also  among  the  prophets  ? 

CRIES 
Huzza,  huzza!     The  day  of  the  Lord  ! 

PEOPLE  chanting 

He  hath  laid  them  low,  laid  them  low. 
Agag  he  hath  brought  captive. 
The  pride  of  Amalek  perishes. 
Sudden  silence.     The  faces  of  all  turned  to  the  L, 
to  a  footpath  from  the  hills.     A  solitary  figure, 
white-bearded,  clad  in  a  long  white  mantle ',  appears. 
[  12  ] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

MICHAL 
The  Prophet  Samuel ! 

SAUL 
Blessed  be  thou  of  Jehovah  ! 

SAMUEL 

Saul,  woe  unto  thee  ! 

He  knocks  down  the  altar  of  stones  with  his  staff 
and  tramples  on  the  Jlowers.  Shudder  of  horror 
from  the  people.  SAUL  utters  an  exclamation,  tot 
ters,  leans  heavily  on  DOEG.  AHINOAM  runs  to 
him  on  the  other  side,  but  he  spurns  her.  MICHAL 
utters  a  faint  cry  and  seizes  JONATHAN'S  hand. 

MICHAL 

Alas,  my  brother  ! 

SAMUEL 

Saul,  you  have  broken  the  commandment  of  Je 
hovah. 

SAUL 
Nay,  I  have  performed  His  commandment. 

SAMUEL 

Was  not  His  commandment,  Bring  not  a  spoil 
of  the  conquered  peoples,  but  destroy  them 
utterly  and  sacrifice  not  till  the  prophet 
come  ? 

[13] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

SAUL 

I  have  obeyed.  I  have  gone  the  way  which  Je 
hovah  sent  me.  I  have  taken  captive  Agag 
and  I  have  destroyed  his  people  utterly. 

SAMUEL 

What  means  then  this  lowing  of  the  cattle  which 
I  hear  and  the  smoke  which  ascends  ? 

SAUL 

The  people  took  of  the  spoil  to  sacrifice  unto  Je 
hovah  by  the  well  of  Bethlehem. 

SAMUEL 

Hath  Jehovah  as  great  delight  in  burnt  offerings 
as  in  obedience  ? 

SAUL 

Because  thou  earnest  not  within  the  hours  ap 
pointed  and  because  of  the  victory,  I  forced 
myself  therefore,  and  offered  the  burnt 
offering. 

SAMUEL 

Foolishly  have  ye  done. 
The  people  groan  and  prostrate  themselves. 

AGAG 

Lick  ye  the  dust  before  the  gray-beard. 
[14] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAMUEL 

You  have  sinned  because  you  have  forsaken  Je 
hovah  and  lo,  his  punishment  will  descend 
upon  you. 
The  people  wail. 

SAUL 
Nay,  nay,  not  on  them,  not  on  my  people. 

JONATHAN 

Let  it  fall  on  me,  the  seed  of  Saul. 

MICHAL 
And  on  me,  his  daughter  ! 

SAUL 

No,  not  on  them,  not  on  my  children  beloved. 

SAMUEL 

Choose,  then,  on  you  and  your  house  or  on  these 

people. 
A  long  pause,  while  SAUL  thinks. 

SAUL 

I  have  chosen. 
The  people  wail. 

PEOPLE 
Woe  unto  us,  woe,  woe  ! 

[15] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

SAUL 

It  is  I  alone  that  have  sinned.     Let  the  curse  fall 
on  me  alone. 

SAMUEL 
Let  the  people  go.     Let  them  depart,  each  man 

to  his  house. 

The  people  scatter  in  various  directions,  R  and  L, 
the  two  young  men  icith  banners  lowered.  AGAG 
remains  in  the  centre  with  his  hands  bound. 

AGAG 

Like  foxes,  each  one  to  his  hole. 
DOEG pricks  him  with  his  spear  and  so  drives  him  out. 

ADRIEL  to  MERAB 

Come,  let  us  depart  to  our  home. 

MERAB  pouting 

The  day  has  been  spoiled. 
Exeunt  MERAB  and  ADRIEL. 

SAUL  to  AHIXOAM. 

Woman,  go  with  your  daughter. 
Exit  AHINOAM,  beckoning  to  BITHIAH,  R. 

MICHAL 

kneeling  by  SAMUEL 
Deal  gently  with  him,  I  pray  ! 
She  kisses  her  father's  hand  and  goes  out   with 
JONATHAN. 

[16] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

JONATHAN  as  he  departs 

Father,  we  will  wait  for  you  by  the  terebinth-tree. 

SAMUEL 

Saul,  when  you  were  little  in  your  own  sight,  you 
were  made  king  over  Israel,  and  Jehovah 
would  have  established  your  kingdom  upon 
Israel  forever,  but  now  it  shall  not  continue. 

SAUL 
I  pray  you,  pardon,  pardon. 

SAMUEL 

Jehovah  hath  sought  him  a  man  after  his  own 
heart  who  shall  rule  in  your  place. 

SAUL 

The  punishment  is  greater  than  I  can  bear.  Nay, 
nay,  it  must  not  be  so.  My  seed  shall  pos 
sess  the  kingdom  after  me.  Leave  me,  man 
of  iron.  He  turns  from  SAMUEL.  Nay, 
leave  me  not. 

He  clings  to  SAMUEL'S  mantle,  which  is  torn  in  his 

hands. 

SAMUEL 

Even  thus  hath  Jehovah  rent  the  kingdom  of 
Israel  from  you  this  day  and  given  it  to  an 
other. 

[17] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

The  sky  is  darkened  and  there  is  lightning  and 
thunder  as  SAMUEL  departs  the  way  he  came. 
SAUL  falls  down,  face  between  his  knees,  moaning. 

SAUL  musing 

The  kingdom  is  rent  from  me  and  is  given  unto 
my  neighbor,  one  greater  than  I.     Jehovah 
does  not  lie,  neither  will  He  repent. 
Laughter  is  heard  from  E  L.     AM  AS  A  and  ASAHEL, 
young   lads  of  fifteen,    nephews   of  DAVID,  run, 
laughing  breathlessly,   over   stones  and   bowlders. 
They  carry  between  them  a  basket  of  fruits  and 
cakes.     They  look  behind  them. 

AMASA 

Look  there  ! 

ASAHEL 
There  he  comes. 

AMASA 

Down,  stoop  down  ! 

ASAHEL 

Quick,  he  will  see  us. 

They  crouch  behind  the  ruined   altar   of  stones. 

Some  of  the   stones  roll  under  their  feet.      They 

laugh. 

AMASA 

Hush! 

[18] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID'S  VOICE 

from  the  L,  singing 
The  mountains  were  glad, 
Yea,  the  little  hills  rejoiced 
At  His  coming. 
ASAHEL  lifts  his  head  and  AMASA  pulls  him  down. 

SAUL  still  unheeding 

I  am  brought  down  to  the  grave. 
Enter   DAVID,  1   E   R,  carrying  his  harp   twined 
with  red  anemones.     He  is  a  slight  but  stalwart 
lad  of  twenty,  with  a  poefs  brow  and  a  bearing  of 
distinction. 

DAVID 

Awake  up,  my  glory ; 
Awake,  psaltery  and  harp ! 
I  myself  will  awake  early. 
Hearing  a  noise  behind  the  altar  he  stops. 
But  a  few  minutes   ago  and   the   lads  were  with 
me  and  now  I  see  them  nowhere.      I  saw  them 
flying  through  the  rocks  ahead  and  then  they 
vanished. 

AMASA  and  ASAHEL  spring  up,  holding  over 
DAVID'S  head  a  wreath  of  wild  olives  they  have 
taken  from  the  basket. 

[19] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 
A  crown ! 

SAUL,  attracted  by  this  word,  looks  suddenly 
round.  The  boys  drop  the  wreath  in  confusion. 

SAUL 

What  there  ? 

All  three  are  covered  with  confusion.  DAVID  picks 
up  the  wreath  and  toys  with  it.  The  two  boys  fal 
ter  backward  toward  SEE,  while  SAUL'S  eyes  are 
fixed  on  DAVID. 

SAUL 
Cannot  you  speak  ? 

DAVID 
My  lord  ? 

SAUL 
What  do  you  here  and  with  that  crown  ? 

DAVID 

The  play  of  children. 

SAUL 

taking  it  from  DAVID'S  hand 
The  play  of  children  is  not  with  crowns. 
He  cuts  it  in  two  with  his  sword  and  hurls  it  down. 
The  two  boys  stand  amazed  at  his  violence. 
To  DAVID. 
Your  name  ? 

[20] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

David  of  Bethlehem,  son  of  Jesse. 
Exeunt  the  boys. 

SAUL 

And  these  ? 

DAVID 

They  will  answer  for  themselves. 

SAUL 

They  have  answered  as  do  the  wild  antelopes 
when  man  calls  them.  They  flee.  Am  I 
then  so  terrible  ? 

DAVID 

You  terrify  me  not. 

SAUL 

You  do  not  fear  ? 

grasping  him  by  the  arm. 

DAVID 

My  lord,  I  know  not  what  is  fear.  I  have 
watched  the  lone  night  on  the  mountain  and 
bearded  the  lion  when  he  roared  after  his 
prey.  Why  then  should  I  fear  mortal  man 
to  whom  I  have  done  no  harm  ? 
[21] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

SAUL 

Innocent !  You  know  not  fear,  nor  remorse  that 
gnaws  at  the  heart,  nor  shame  that  burns 
the  soul.  Do  you  know  me  ? 

DAVID 

I  think  that  you  are  one  of  the  great,  but  your 
name  is  unknown  to  me.  I  am  but  a  shep 
herd  lad,  feeding  my  father's  flock  among 
the  hills  of  Bethlehem. 

SAUL 
And  this  harp  ? 

DAVID 

I  love  to  awake  music  among  the  hills.  I  watch 
the  stars  over  Bethlehem  and  the  moon 
when  she  arises  behind  the  cedars.  I  sing 
them  on  my  harp.  It  makes  also  the  melody 
of  falling  waters  and  of  the  rain-storms 
among  the  hills. 

SAUL 
Happy  one  !     Your  errand  here  ? 

DAVID 

My  brothers  are  great  ones  and  are  returning 
from  afar.  Have  you  not  heard  the  fame  of 
Eliab  the  potter  and  of  Abinadab,  the  king's 
standard-bearer  ? 

[22] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL 

The  king  ? 

DAVID 

Yes,  my  lord.     And  I  was  sent  with  my  nephews 
to  meet  them  and  bring  them  refreshment. 

SAUL 
What  do  your  brothers  say  of  the  king  ? 

DAVID 

That  he  is  noble  and  brave. 

SAUL 

A  godly  man  ? 

DAVID 
Like  one  of  the  prophets. 

SAUL 

Are  they  pleased  with  his  kingship  ? 

DAVID 
Yes,  my  lord. 

SAUL 
They  would  protect  him  to  the  death  ? 

DAVID 
To  the  death  and  I,  too,  my  lord. 

SAUL 

Are  you  fain  to  serve  the  king  ? 
[23] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 
I  would  serve  him  with  my  life. 

SAUL 
So  you  long  for  the  tumult  of  life  ? 

DAVID 
If  I  might  serve  Saul  my  king. 

SAUL 
Swear  to  me  your  loyalty  to  your  king. 

DAVID 

clasping  SAUL'S  hand 
I  swear. 

SAUL 

What  have  you  here  in  this  basket  ? 

DAVID 
Fruit,  my  lord,  and  cakes  for  my  three  brothers. 

SAUL 

Spread  out  that  we  may  eat. 

DAVID  unpacks  the  contents  of  the  basket. 

DAVID 
Have  you  been  at  Gibeah  and  seen  the  king  ? 

SAUL 

Yes,  I  have  seen  him.     What,  raisins  ? 
[24] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

A  lordly  man  to  look  upon  ? 

SAUL 

And  cakes  of  barley,  also  ?     He  is  dark,  yes,  and 
tall. 

DAVID 
Royal  in  manner  ? 

SAUL 

Abrupt,  they  say,  and  of  an  evil  temper.     Milk 
in  a  bottle ! 

DAVID 

It  is  his  kingly  wrath  at  follies  and  the  things  that 
are  wrong. 

SAUL 
Fall  to  eating,  boy. 

DAVID 
I  cannot  eat.      My  heart  is  bursting. 

SAUL 
At  what  ? 

DAVID 

At  the  thought  that  you  have   seen  the  king. 
Have  you  sat  at  meat  with  him  ? 

SAUL 

Even  as  I  do  now  with  you.     Eat,  eat ! 
[25] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

rising  and  going  to  the  well 
No,  no,  I  am  not  hungry.      Will  you  not  have 

water  from  the  well  of  Bethlehem  ? 
He  draws  water  and  offers  a  cup  to  SAUL,   who 
drinks. 

SAUL 

Did  you  hear  Saul's  army  as  it  went  through  the 
hills  to  Gibeah  ? 

DAVID 

Nought  but  huzzas  and  the  trampling  of  feet  like 
the  noise  of  many  waters,  but  I  was  afar 
among  the  caves,  looking  for  my  sheep. 

SAUL 

Did  you  hear  no  other  sound  ? 

DAVID 

Jehovah  thundered  among  His  mountains  and  the 
lightning  was  upon  the  waters  like  a  sword. 

SAUL  gloomily 

When  the  curse  fell  upon  me ! 

DAVID 

My  lord  ? 

[26] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL 

Sing  me  one  of  your  songs.      I  am  troubled. 
DAVID   takes  his  harp  while   SAUL  rests  himself 
against  the  oak-tree,  shading  his  eyes  with  a  fold  of 
his  robe. 

DAVID  singing 

The  Lord  my  shepherd  is, 

I  shall  not  want. 
In  the  green  pastures  shall  I  lie 

And  walk  beside  still  waters. 

The  Lord  my  soul  restores ; 

He  leadeth  me 
In  paths  of  righteousness 

For  His  name's  sake. 

Enter  from    SEE,  unnotked,    JONATHAN    and 
MICHAL. 

Yea,  though  I  walk  in  night, 

In  death's  dark  valley, 
Yet  will  I  fear  no  evil, 
For  Thou  art  with  me. 

MICHAL,  as  if  fascinated,  has   been  approaching 

DAVID.      At  the   conclusion   of  this   last   strophe 

he    sees  her  and  rises,  surprised.     She  puts  her 

[27] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

finger  on  her  lip  to  signify  silence  and  he  sings 
again. 

Yet  I  will  fear  no  evil, 

For  Thou  art  with  me. 

As  DAVID  sings,   MICHAL  continues  to  approach, 
her  finger  still  upheld  in  warning. 
My  cup  runs  over. 

Goodness  and  mercy  follow  me — 
DAVID  stops  singing  but  plays.     MICHAL  takes  up 
the  musk,  unconsciously. 

MICHAL  singing 

And  in  the  king's  house  thou  shalt  dwell 

All  thy  life's  days. 

At  the  new  voice  SAUL  turns  and  sees  them  side  by 
side.  His  robe  which  he  has  been  holding  before  his 
eyes  drops  from  his  uplifted  hand.  DAVID  and 
MICHAL  smile,  looking  first  at  SAUL,  then  at  each 
other. 

SAUL 
Is  this  a  dream  ? 

Enter  quietly  from  2  E  n,  DOEG. 

to  DOEG 
Is  this  a  dream  ? 

DOEG 
My  lord  ? 

[28] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL 
Do  you  see  yon  two  ? 

DOEG 
A  shepherd  lad  and  - 

SAUL 
Peace  !  (to  DAVID^  Sing  again  ! 

DOEG 

My  lord  king,  the  shepherd  lad  hath  bewitched 
you. 

DAVID 

prostrating  himself 
The  king  !     My  lord  Saul  ! 

SAUL 
Why  have  you  come,  all  of  you,  to  trouble  my 


DOEG 

Your  people  wait  for  you,  sire,  at  Gibeah. 

DAVID  to  JONATHAN 

The    king  !     I    knew    not.      And   you    are   the 
prince  Jonathan. 

JONATHAN 

Yes,  he  is  the  king,  my   father,  and  you  have 
brought  him  peace. 

[29] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID  to  MlCHAL 

And   you    are    Saul's     daughter  !       The    king's 
daughter  ! 

MICHAL 
Only  Michal. 

DAVID  enraptured 

Michal,  Michal. 

DOEG 

My    lord,   the  army    waits    before  the   gates  of 
Gibeah. 

SAUL 
Come,  come,  I  have  delayed  too  long. 

MICHAL 

lingering  to  DAVID 
Shall  I  not  also  know  your  name  ? 

DAVID 
I  am  David  of  Bethlehem. 

MICHAL 

You  shall  be  known  as  David,  the  sweet  singer. 

SAUL 

My  lad,  remember  that  Saul  the  king   is   your 
friend. 

[30] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

JONATHAN 

And  Jonathan  also,  until  my  life's  end. 
They  clasp  hands.     Exeunt  %  E  R,  JONATHAN  and 
MICHAL. 

DOEG 

as  he  goes  out  with  SAUL 

All  this  for  a  herd-boy,  a  smooth-faced  tender 
of  sheep  ! 

DAVID 

How  beautiful  is  the  king's  daughter!  She  is 
like  morning  upon  the  hills. 

He  rearranges  the  fragments  in  his  basket. 

Supper  with  a  king  and  song  with  a  king's  daugh 
ter,  with  Michal !  Taking  his  harp.  Happy 
harp  !  She  has  sung  to  the  sound  of  your 
strings.  I  wish  also  that  she  had  eaten  from 
this  loaf. 

He  holds  the  loaf  in  both  hands  longingly.  Enter 
MICHAL  from  E.  DAVID  drops  the  loaf  with  a 
start. 

MICHAL  shyly 

I  have  lost  my — ring.      I  twirled  it  thus  between 
my  fingers  and  it — fell. 
[31] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

JONATHAN 

appearing  at  %  E  n 
Do  you  find  it,  Michal  ? 

MICHAL 

Not  yet. 

JONATHAN 
I  will  help  you. 

MICHAL 
No,  no. 

DAVID 
I  will  help  her. 

MICHAL  pointing  L 

Jonathan,  please  look  for  it  there,  beneath  the 
terebinth-tree. 

JONATHAN  going  out  L 

Over  here  ? 

MICHAL 

Further  off,  still  further.      Yes. 

DAVID  looks  for  the  ring  while  MICHAL  looks  for 

it  also,  glancing  shyly  up  at  him  from    time    to 

time. 

DAVID 

I  am  sorry.      I  do  not  find  it. 

MICHAL 
Why,  here  it  is,  slipped  within  this  plaiting  of 

my  robe. 

[32] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

Where  ? 

He  goes  to  her  and  they  stand  very  close,  looking 

at  the  ring. 

MICHAL 

Now  I  suppose  I  must  go. 

DAVID 

Would  you  not  like  a — drink  of  water  ? 

MICHAL 
Yes,  I  think  so.     Indeed,  I  am  very  thirsty. 

DAVID  drawing  water 

I  will  draw  you  some. 

MICHAL  watching 

How  well  you  do  that,  how  wonderful ! 

DAVID 
It  is  not  difficult. 

MICHAL 
Let  me. 
DAVID  hands  her   the  rope  to  let  down  into  the 

well. 

MICHAL 

as  she  lets  the  vessel  drop  too  suddenly 
Alack,  what  have  I  done  ? 
Both  laugh. 

[33] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

Here  is  enough. 
He  pours  water  into  a  bowl  and  hands  it  to  her. 

MICHAL 

after  she  has  drunk 
And  you  ? 

DAVID  takes  it,  turns  it  to  the  same  place  where 
she  had  sipped,  then,  smiling  at  her,  drinks.  He 
holds  the  cup  in  his  hand  till  after  MICHAL'S  de 
parture. 

JONATHAN'S  VOICE 
Michal,  Michal ! 

MICHAL 
T  must  go. 

DAVID 

And  I  shall  see  you  no  more ! 

MICHAL 

Shall  see  me  no  more  ! 

JONATHAN'S  VOICE  nearer 

Michal ! 

MICHAL 
I  come,  I  come. 
JONATHAN  appears  at  L 
Farewell,  David. 

[34] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

JONATHAN 

Farewell,  David,  and  we  shall  surely  meet  again. 

DAVID 

God  be  with  you  ! 

Exeunt  &  E  R,  JONATHAN  and  MICHAL.  DAVID 
looks  at  the  cup,  which  he  still  holds  in  his  hands. 
Cup  of  my  joy  which  the  lips  of  the  princess  have 

touched. 

He  dashes  the  cup  to  the  ground. 
Her  lips  shall  be  the  last  that  have  touched  your 

brim. 
Singing. 

The  king  shall  joy  in  my  strength, 
How  greatly  shall  he  rejoice  ! 
Thou  hast  given  me  my  heart's  desire, 
The  request  of  my  lips  thou  hast  not  withholden. 

Enter  E  L,  ELIAB,  ABINADAB,  SHAMMAH — DAVID'S 
three  brothers.  ELIAB,  a  great  hulk  of  humanity, 
huge-voiced  and  shaggy-maned.  ABINADAB,  a 
loose-limbed,  stalking  scout,  with  long-fingered  ac 
tive  hands.  Shammah,  a  square-built  son  of  the 
soil,  with  a  wide  mouth  open  to  easy  mirth.  He  is 
incongruously  decked  in  gauds. 
[35] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID  singing 

On  my  head  thou  settest  a  crown  of  pure  gold, 
And  makest  me  blest  forever. 

ELIAB  vociferously 

Dreamer,  awake  ! 

ABINADAB 

Prater  of  gold  crowns. 

DAVID  springing  up 

My  brothers  ! 

ELIAB 

Well  may  you  cry  !  Is  it  thus  that  you  watch 
for  your  brothers  ? 

ABINADAB 

as  DAVID  greets  him  affectionately 
I  had  rather  your  cakes  than  your  embraces. 

SHAMMAH 

Spread  your  mantle  on  the  herbage,  David,  so 
that  I  soil  not  my  fine  trappings. 

ELIAB 

Are  we  not  brave  brothers  for  you  ?  The  Amal- 
ekites  fled  before  us  like  chaff  before  the 
wind. 

[36] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

He  seizes  DAVID  with  rough  jocularity  to  over 
throw  him  in  illustration  of  his  meaning,  but 
DAVID  withstands  him. 

Even  so  they  toppled  ! 

ABINADAB 
Even  so  they  withstood  you! 

ELIAB 

drinking  a  bottle  of  milk 
Even  so  they  vanished! 

ABINADAB 

Your  fingers  are  fitter  for  the  potter's  wheel  than 
for  the  use  of  weapons,  Eliab. 

SHAMMAH 

You  have  not  provided  for  a  babe,  David.     Is 
this  meat  for  the  appetite  of  a  soldier  ? 

DAVID 

My  lord  the  king  hath  supped  with  me.     There 
fore  I  have  not  more  for  you. 

SHAMMAH 

Star-gazer!    You  have  been  no  nearer  the  king 
than  you  are  to  wearing  this  robe  of  mine. 
Care!    Soil  it  not  with  your  foot,  herd-boy! 
[37] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ABINADAB 

I  shrewdly  surmise  that  you  yourself  are  the  king 
with  your  dream-crown  of  pure  gold  upon 
your  head  that  have  emptied  this  basket 
before  our  coming. 

ELIAB 

as  they  all  rise  to  go 

Stay  here  then,  little  brother,  and  sing  by  the 
water-courses.  We  go  to  follow  the  real 
king.  Some  time  I  will  send  for  you  and 
perhaps  you  may  be  my  armor-bearer. 

SHAMMAH 

In  time  you  may  be  like  unto  us.  Come, 
brothers. 

As  they  start  on  their  way  1  E  R  they  are  met  by 
JESSE,  his  wife  and  a  servant,  coming  from  Bethle 
hem. 

JESSE 

as  they  greet  each  other 

My  sons,  a  solemn  message  has  brought  me  hither. 
The  prophet  Samuel  has  sent  for  you  to  meet 
you  in  these  hills  apart. 
[38] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SHAMMAH  to  DAVID 

What  are  you  waiting  for,  olive-branch  ?    Run  to 
your  caves  and  thistles. 

DAVID'S  MOTHER 
Farewell,  beloved. 

DAVID 
Farewell,  mother.     Farewell  all.     I  am  off  to  my 

sheep-tower. 
Exit  DAVID  E  L 

JESSE 

The  elders  come. 

Enter  one  by  one  three  patriarchs,  pacing  in  studied 
solemnity.     Greetings  are  exchanged. 

FIRST  ELDER 
I  much  misdoubt  me  some  calamity  overhangs. 

SECOND   ELDER 

The  Philistines,  perhaps,  have  stolen  the  Urim 
and  Thummim. 

THIRD   ELDER 

It  is  well  that  we  are  called.     Samuel  hath  re 
spect  to  our  wisdom. 
[39] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

JESSE 

Who  can  say  ?     But  lo,  he  comes ! 
Enter  SAMUEL  E  L  and  a  servant,  bearing  a  cruse 
of  oil.     All  rise  and  bow  low. 

JESSE 
Welcome,  thou  man  of  God. 

SAMUEL 
Jehovah  be  with  you. 

ALL 

And  with  you. 

SAMUEL 
Are  your  sons  all  here  ? 

JESSE 

They  are  all  here. 

DAVID'S  MOTHER 

There  remains  yet  the  youngest  and  he  keeps  the 

sheep. 

SAMUEL 
Send  and  fetch  him,  for  we  will  wait  till  he  come 

hither. 
Servant  is  despatched,  E  L 

FIRST   ELDER 

What  would  he  with  his  cruse  of  oil  ? 
[40] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

SECOND   ELDER 
Shall  a  new  prophet  be  set  over  us  ? 

THIRD   ELDER 
Or  a  new  king  ? 

SAMUEL 
Let  your  sons  pass  before  me. 

ELIAB 
Lo,  I  am  the  eldest. 

ABINADAB 
I  am  before  you  as  Saul's  standard-bearer. 

SAMUEL 

In  time  of  peace  I  am  come  to  sacrifice  unto  Je 
hovah  and  to  anoint  His  elect  unto  His 
chosen  office. 

JESSE 

A  prophet,  a  priest?  Not  a  new  king  over  Is 
rael? 

SAMUEL 
Jehovah  will  disclose  His  will  when  the  time  is 

ripe.     Let  them  stand  before  me. 
The  three  sons  stand  before  SAMUEL  in  turn,  each 
with  characteristic  expression  and  attitude.     Be 
fore  each,  after  earnestly  looking,  SAMUEL  bows  his 
[41] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

head    in    disappointment.     The    elders    earnestly 
copy  each  gesture  of  the  prophet  SAMUEL. 

SAMUEL 
Has  your  youngest  son  not  yet  come  ? 

ELIAB 
The  stripling,  the  smooth-faced! 

ABINADAB 
Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings ! 

SHAMMAH 
With  the  sheep-skin  on  his  shoulder  and  the  flute 

to  his  mouth ! 

DAVID  enters  E  L,  running,  his  harp,  twined  with 
anemones,  in  his  hand. 

DAVID'S  MOTHER 
Beloved! 

DAVID  saluting 

I  have  come  fleet-foot  from  the  sheep-folds.  My 
mother!  My  father! 

SAMUEL 

SAMUEL,  speaking  apart  with  DAVID'S  mother. 

David  is  set  apart  for  the  kingship,  but  Jehovah 
reveals  it  not  to  him  nor  to  Israel  till  the 
time  be  come.  David,  my  son,  hither! 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID  approaches  SAMUEL  and  bows  before  him 
as  the  prophet  anoints  his  head  with  oil. 
He  is  now  the  anointed  of  Jehovah. 

DAVID 

My  cup  runs  over!  Leave  us  together  alone,  I 
pray  you. 

Exeunt  by  R   all   but  SAMUEL,  DAVID,  and  his 

mother. 

SAMUEL     to  David's  mother 

You  are  his  mother.  Stay  by  us.  To  DAVID. 
The  voice  of  Jehovah  speaketh  through  me 
unto  you.  Hearken.  You  shall  deliver  the 
land,  you,  David,  from  the  hand  of  the  Phil 
istines  and  from  the  hand  of  all  the  heathen. 
The  vision  of  the  Lord  be  upon  you. 

The  spirit  of  God  descends  upon  DAVID.     After 

a  period  of  silence  he  speaks,  but  as  if  to  himself 

alone. 

DAVID 

Lo,  I  see  a  house  made  desolate. 

A  voice  of  weeping  and  a  voice  of  lamentation, 

A  strong  man  bowed  down. 

SAMUEL  to  himself 

The  Vision  of  the  House  of  Saul ! 
[43] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID      wrapt  in  his  vision 
A  lion  is  come  up  from  his  thicket. 
He  is  gone  forth  from  his  place  to  make  the  land 
desolate. 

SAMUEL 
A  Vision  of  the  Strife  between  Saul  and  David. 

DAVID 
I  go  down  to  the  potter's  house  and,  behold,  he 

worketh  a  work  on  the  wheels; 
The  vessel  he  maketh  of  clay  is  marred  in  the 

hands  of  the  potter. 
He  breaketh  it  on  the  floor  that  it  falleth  into  bits. 

SAMUEL 
A  Vision  of  the  Sin  of  Saul. 

DAVID 
He  maketh  again  another  vessel  as  seemeth  good 

to  the  potter; 
Oh,  people  of  Israel,  cannot  I  do  with  you  as  this 

potter  ? 
Behold,  as  the  clay  is  in  the  potter's  hand,  so  are 

ye  in  my  hand. 

Even  a  full  wind  comes  now  unto  me, 
I  cannot  hold  my  peace,  because  thou  hast  heard, 

O  my  soul, 

[44] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

The  sound  of  the  trumpet,  the  alarm  of  war. 
The  priests  shall  be  astonished  and  the  prophets 

shall  wonder. 
Behold,  he  cometh  up  as  clouds  and  his  chariots 

are  as  a  whirlwind. 
His  horses  are  swifter  than  eagles. 
Salvation  cometh  from  the  hills  and  from  the 

multitude  of  mountains. 

SAMUEL 
A  Vision  of  the  Victory  of  David. 

DAVID 

with  a  relapse  to  infinite  sadness 

Oh,  that  thou  hadst  hearkened  to  His  command 
ments  ! 

Then  had  thy  peace  been  as  a  river  and  thy  right 
eousness  as  the  waves  of  the  sea. 

Thou  art  carried  into  a  far  country: 

Come  down  and  sit  in  the  dust,  O  virgin  daughter. 

Take  the  mill-stones  and  grind  meal. 

Sit  thee  silent  and  get  thee  into  darkness, 

For  thou  shalt  no  more  be  called  the  Lady  of 
Kingdoms ! 

DAVID  slowly  awakens  from  his  trance. 
[45] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

SAMUEL 

A  Vision  of  the  Long  Captivity.  As  in  a  glass  he 
sees  the  future  darkly. 

DAVID'S  MOTHER 
Beloved,  what  have  you  seen  ? 
Did  you  see  the  vision  of  yourself  ?     Did  you  see 
the  victor's  face  ? 

DAVID 

Myself  I  saw  not,  nor  any  man  whose  face  I  know. 
But  kings  and  princes  saw  I  and  they  bowed 
before  a  shepherd-lad. 

AMASA  and  ASAHEL  enter  hurriedly  from  2  E  R. 
They  salute. 

ASAHEL 
Huzza,  huzza!    A  messenger  from  the  king. 

Enter  1  E  R  the  three  brothers. 

AMASA 
Good  news !     A  messenger  from  the  king ! 

SHAMMAH 
The  king  will  appoint  me  his  body-guard. 

ELIAB 
I  to  be  Captain  over  a  hundred. 

Enter  2  E  R,  DOEG,  bowing  ironically  to  all. 
[46] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

DOEG 

Is  there  here  a  son  of  Jesse  ?  The  three  brothers 
push  forward.  By  the  name  of  David  ? 

DAVID 
It  is  I. 

DOEG 
Who  keeps  the  sheep  ? 

DAVID 
It  is  I. 

DOEG 

The  king  summons  you  to  his  palace  at  Gibeah. 

DAVID'S  MOTHER 
Beloved,  already  your  future  dawns  brightly. 

DAVID 

I  know  not.  If  it  be  greatness  to  serve  my  king, 
to  win  the  friendship  of  the  king's  son,  of  the 
king's  daughter,  then  am  I  called  to  great 
ness.  I  ask  no  more. 

He  waves  his  hand  in  exultant  farewell. 

To  the  king — the  king. 

CURTAIN 


[47] 


ACT   II 

SCENE  I :  THE  SUMMER  GARDEN  AT  GIBEAH  :  A 
Syrian  garden,  springtime,  with  blush  of  almond- 
trees  on  hill-slopes  and  one  burst  of  bloom  above 
a  rustic  seat,  c.  A  path  leads  away  through  roses 
and  lilies,  1  E  R.  2  E  R  conducts  to  the  camp  of 
Philistia.  On  the  L  is  shown  the  facade  of  SAUL'S 
palace,  low,  delicate  in  color,  with  elaborately  sculp 
tured  windows  and  doors.  1  E  L  leads  to  Gibeah, 
behind  the  palace.  A  door,  2  E  L,  enters  the 
palace. 

On  the  seat  are  gay  patterns  in  embroidery,  thrown 
down  in  the  merry  melee  of  SAUL'S  idle  courtiers. 
Seated  on  the  sward  are  a  group  of  merrymakers, 
MERAB,  ADRIEL,  and  others,  men  and  maidens,  six 
or  eight.      Two  black  serving-maids  with  fans,  fol 
low  their  mistresses,  fanning  them.      ELEAZER,  an 
old  gardener,  gnarled  of  figure,  kindly  and  winter- 
apple  of  face,  putters  in  the  garden,  up-stage. 
The  curtain  rises  on  a  whirl  of  chatter. 
[48] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE    ONE 

MERAB 

Listen,  have  ye  all  heard  the  news  ? 

ALL 

What,  what  ? 

MERAB 
We  have  a  new  darling  amongst  us. 

ALL 
Who? 

MERAB 

King  Saul  has  caught  on  the  hills  a  shepherd  lad, 
a  wild  herdsboy. 

ADRIEL 

Who  knows  nothing  but  to  feed  sheep. 

MERAB 

And  to  sing  !     Oh,  ye  should  hear  him  warble. 
She  laughs. 

ADRIEL 
Have  you  heard  him  ? 

MERAB  laughing 

At  his  window  in  the  early  morning.     "  A  psalm 
to  my  black  ewe  !  "     "Ditty  to  the  crook- 
horned  ram  ! " 
All  laugh. 

[49] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ADRIEL 

It  was  the  fancy  of  Saul  to  send  for  him  and  lo  ! 
Saul  has  not  yet  given  him  audience.  Such 
is  the  black  humor  of  the  king. 

MERAB     clapping  her  hands 
I  have  it,  I  have  it ! 

ALL 

Who,  what  ? 

ELEAZER 

drawing  near,  with  a  crooked,  stooping  gait 
Have   you    caught   a   hornet,    Princess    Merab  ? 
They  do    have  slender  waists,   the  hornets, 
but  a  sting  at  t'other  end,  terrific.     There 
be  drawbacks  to  everything. 
All  laugh. 

MERAB 

Not  a  hornet,  but  an  idea  has  stung  me. 

ELEAZER  moving  away 

They  do  be  troublesome  as  hornets  some  years 
and  a  deal  harder  to  kill. 

MERAB 

Let  us  hold  mock  court  here  and  summon  this 
David,  this  shepherd  man. 
[50] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE     ONE 

A    MAIDEN 

Is  that  his  name,  David,  David  ? 

A    MAN 
'Tis  a  curious  name,  an   odd  conceit,  to  title  a 

man  so,  David,  David  ! 
All  repeat  the  name  drolly. 

ALL 

David  !     David ! 

ADRIEL  rising 

We   shall  have  rare  sport   with  this   unlettered 

clown. 
All  rise  and  huddle  around  MERAB  and  ADRIEL. 

MERAB 

Bithiah  shall  be  queen. 

They  seat  the  black  maid  on  the  rustic  bench  and 

crown  her  with  leaves. 

ADRIEL 
Lo,  she  is  black  but  comely. 

MERAB 

Who  shall  be  our  king  ? 

VOICES 

1,1! 

[51] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ADRIEL 
Let  us  fetch  Hurai,  the  chief  cook.     He  is  of  a 

lordly  stomach. 
A  young  man  goes  off',  running,  1  E  L. 

ADRIEL 

There  shall  be  footmen  at  the  steps  of  the  throne. 
Hither,  Eleazer,  to  us  ! 

ALL 

Eleazer  !     Good,  good  ! 

ELEAZER    throws  aside  a    weed  he  has  just  up 
rooted. 

ELEAZER 

I  cannot  come  to  ye.      I  am  busy  with  these  other 
weeds. 

MERAB 

to  a  young  man,  cajolingly 
Serve  us  as  a  footman  for  the  nonce  ! 

ADRIEL  to  a  maiden 

You,  also,  shall  attend  the  throne. 
The  maiden  and  young  man,  amid  laughter,  are 
seated  on  cushions  below  the  bench. 

MERAB 

Now  let  one  go  for  David  and  we  shall  watch  his 
manner  of  behavior. 

[52] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE    ONE 

Young  man  goes  off  running^  2  E  L.  First 
young  man  returns  1  E  L,  with  HURAI,  a  fat  and 
pompous  person  who  resents  their  fun  at  his  ex 
pense. 

ADRIEL 
Let  us  have  his  apron  off. 

MERAB 
No,  no.     What  does  David  know  of  the  attire  of 

palace   servants  ?     It  will    be   to  him   as  a 

robe  of  state.     We  will  put  your  mantle  on 

Hurai  above  the  cook's  apron. 
ADRIEL'S  gorgeous  robe  is  put  on  HURAI  and  he 
is  seated  on  the  bench  beside  BITHIAH,  to  the  daze- 
ment  and  discomfort  of  them  both.     General  chat 
ter. 

ADRIEL 

Silence.     David  comes.     I  will  be  spokesman. 
Enter.,  2  E  L,  DAVID  and  the  young  man. 
David,  the  time  being  ripe,  the  king  sends  for 

you. 

He  points  to  HURAI  and  BITHIAH. 
Our  gracious  queen  also  will  greet  you.     Do  them 

obeisance. 

As  DAVID  calmly  meets  their  eyes  their  tittering 
mirth  changes  to  admiration  at  his  bearing. 
[53] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MAIDEN 
Indeed,  he  is  no  unlettered  clown. 

MERAB 

Will  you  not  kneel  before  our  queen  ? 
DAVID  kneels  before  MERAB.     All  laugh. 

DAVID 

O  Queen  of  Merrymakers,  I  salute  you. 
He  kisses  her  hand. 
But  the  king  I  see  not. 
ELEAZER  appears  around  the  garden  path. 
DAVID  perceives  him,  goes  to  him  and  bows. 
King  of  the  garden,  good  son  of  our  old  father 
Adam,  you  are  the  finest  gentleman  of  us  all. 
There  is  a  laugh  at  ADRIEL'S  expense  and  applause 
for   DAVID.       Enter,  from    the  palace,    2    E    L, 
MICHAL.      She  pauses,  surveying  the  group  curi 
ously. 

MERAB 

Well  spoken,  David.  You  have  found  a  king 
among  us,  but  who  is  your  queen,  queen  of 
your  heart  ? 

DAVID  looks  about,  sees  MICHAL.      She  comes  for 
ward,  her  eyes  upon  him. 

[54] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

ADRIEL 

Among  the  hills,  perhaps,  you  have  a  lass  ? 

DAVID 

slowly  and  significantly 

Among  the  hills  I  had  a  lass.  I  was  a  prince 
there. 

ALL  surprised 

A  prince  ? 

DAVID 

Free  as  the  wind,  who  roameth  wherever  he  list- 
eth.  Free  to  wander,  to  sing,  to  love,  prince 
of  hill  and  dale.  In  the  palace  of  King  Saul, 
I  am  his  harp-player.  A  harp-player  may 
not  look  upon  a  king's  daughter.  I  have  no 
lass  here. 

MICHAL  sigJis  deeply  and  moves  away  among  the 
trees,  c.      ADRIEL  follows  her. 

ADRIEL 
Wherefore  that  deep  sigh,  little  maiden  ? 

MICHAL 

A  sigh  ?     I  do  not  know  wherefore  I  sighed. 
Of  all  the  courtiers  DAVID  alone  observes  the  ap 
proach  of  KING  SAUL. 

[55] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

The  King,  the  King  ! 

SAUL  and  JONATHAN  enter,  wrapt  in  deep  con 
verse,  and  come  suddenly  upon  the  careless  confu 
sion  of  the  garden-idlers. 

SAUL 

Humiliation  upon  humiliation,  disgrace  upon  dis 
grace  !     And  now  comes  a  challenge  from 
Goliath,  giant    son    of  Anakim.     And  not 
one  of  our  people  stands  forth  to  answer. 
He  frowns  upon  the  merry  group. 
What  here  ? 

BITHIAH  and  HURAI,  apprehensive,  tumble  down 
from  the  improvised  throne.  Their  action  attracts 
the  attention  of  the  others,  who  then  shrink  away 
from  SAUL,  in  habitual  fear  of  his  black  look. 

SAUL 
Out!       Dawdlers!       While    Israel    perishes,   ye 

wanton  the  time.     Begone ! 
All  scatter  R  and  L  but  DAVID,  JONATHAN,  MICHAL, 
and  MERAB. 
Who  is  yon  lad  ? 

DAVID 

My  lord,  I  am  David,  son  of  Jesse. 
[56] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE     ONE 

MERAB  languidly  goes  to  the  bench  and  picks  up 
her  embroidery. 

SAUL  blankly 

David,  son  of  Jesse. 

DAVID 

My  lord,  I  played  the  harp  for  you  by  the  well 
of  Bethlehem. 

SAUL 

The  harp-player !    I  remember.    The  shepherd  lad 
with  his  brave  and  simple  heart.    I  remember. 
His  face  lightens. 

You  are  loyal  yet,  in  this  mob  of  seekers  ?  Come 
with  me,  lad,  to  my  chamber. 
DAVID  follows  SAUL.  MICHAL  stands  musingly, 
toying  with  a  white  rose  which  she  has  taken  from 
her  hair.  She  is  between  DAVID  and  the  door  of 
the  palace.  As  DAVID  approaches,  she  moves 
slightly,  but  as  if  accidentally,  to  stand  between  him 
and  the  door.  He  bows  and  would  pass,  awaiting. 
She  drops  the  rose,  looking  at  him  and  then  down 
to  her  fallen  rose.  He  glances  at  the  rose  and  then 
at  her.  Meanwhile,  SAUL  and  JONATHAN  have  dis 
appeared,  %  E  L. 

DAVID  gravely 

Princess,  your  father  awaits  me. 

[57] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 

David,  I  have  dropped  a  rose. 
DAVID  picks  up  the  flower  and  hands  it  to  her. 
She  does  not  take  it,  but  looks  at  it,  while  he  stead 
ily  offers  it.     She  receives  it,  speaking. 
Have  you  forgotten  ?     Though  my  father  forgets, 
his  daughter  remembers ! 

DAVID 
What  do  you  remember  ? 

MICHAL 

I  remember  your  kindness  to — my  father.      And 
you  ? 

DAVID 

I  have  forgotten  nothing.      But  also  I  remember 
that  you — are  a  king's  daughter  and   I — a 
harp-player  at  the  king's  footstool. 
Exit  DAVID,  2  E.    L.    MICHAL  stands  doubtfully, 
the  rose  in  her  hand,  then,  with  a  passionate  gesture 
of  disappointment,  throws  it  to  the  ground. 

MERAB 

Are  you  angry  with  the  rose  ? 

MICHAL 
It  does  not  please  me. 

[58] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

MERAB 

Come  sit  by  me  and  let  us  finish  our  patterns. 
MICHAL  goes  to  her,  they  sit  side  by  side  on  the 
bench.     MICHAL  takes  from  MERAB   mechanically 
the  various  articles  of  their  handicraft. 

MICHAL  intensely 

Merab,  how  should  the  love  of  a  man  be  won  ? 

MERAB  surprised 

How  should  I  know,  child  ? 

MICHAL 
You  are  wedded  to  Adriel  and  you  should  know. 

MERAB 

It  was  he  won  my  love,  not  I  his.  But  still,  me- 
thinks  I  can  discourse  to  you  of  the  win 
ning  of  man's  love.  Let  him  stand  on  the 
Threshold  of  Trembling.  Give  him  first  to 
drink  the  Cup  of  Surrender  and  then  the  Cup 
of  Fear.  He  must  never  be  sated.  So  may 
man's  love  be  kept. 

MICHAL 

That  is  the  keeping  of  man's  love.  But  the  get 
ting  ? 

[59] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MERAB 

Ah,  ask  me  not  in  riddles.  This  I  know.  When 
the  huntsman  has  bagged  one  bird,  then 
must  he  go  hunting  again. 

MICHAL 
Go  hunting  again ! 

MERAB 

Listen,  sister.  A  woman's  nature  is  to  be  shy 
and  wild.  The  wild  bird  does  not  flutter 
her  wings  in  the  hunter's  very  face. 

MICHAL 

Merab,  have  I  done  that?  Have  I  fluttered  my 
wings  in  his  very  face  ? 

MERAB 

with  peals  of  amusement 
Your  wings  ?     In  his  very  face  ?     Whose  face  ? 

MICHAL  in  rosy  shame 

Hush !     Oh,  hush ! 

MERAB 

suddenly  calming  herself  to  read  MICHAL'S  face 
I  know,  I  know.      It  is  David,  the  shepherd,  the 
harp-player  from  the  hills.     Oh,  you  little 
[60] 


ACT    TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

foolish  one.      You  that  have  sworn  to  love 
only  a  man  of  war,  a  son  of  many  battles. 
MERAB  rises,  laughing,  and  goes  toward  L. 

MICHAL 

I  swear  that  he  could  swing  a  sword  with  any  of 
your  swaggering  courtiers. 

MERAB  laughing 

Not  he,  with  those  musical  fingers.     Tweedle-dee- 

dee. 

Exit  MERAB,  2  E  L. 

MICHAL  bows  her  head  on  the  back  of  the  bench 
and  is  seen  to  be  weeping.  Enter  by  garden-path, 
1  E  R,  ELEAZER. 

MICHAL 

I  love  him  and — he  must  not  know  it,  for — if  he 
knows  it,  he  will  go  hunting  again.  But  I 
have  told  him  already  by  the  look  of  my 
eyes.  It  was  too  soon,  too  soon. 

ELEAZER  comfortingly 

ELEAZER 

Have  you  seen  my  almond-trees,  Lady  Michal  ? 
They  are  burst  out  into  bloom  this  morn 
ing,  most  glorious. 

[61] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL  to  herself 

It  was  too  soon,  too  soon. 

ELEAZER 

Yes,  lady.  When  the  almond -trees  blossom  too 
soon,  there  'ull  be  a  flood  of  rain,  come  fruit- 
time.  There's  no  good  thing  but  there's  a 
drawback.  There's  a  drawback  to  every 
thing. 

Enter,  %  E  L,  DAVID.      ELEAZER  beckons  to  him 

with  a  kindly  twinkle. 

She  is  heavy-hearted  these  days,  master,  terrible 
heavy-hearted,  sir. 

ELEAZER   hobbles   up   stage,    his    back    to    them. 

DAVID  looks  at  MICHAL,  whose  face  is  turned  from 

him.     He  sees  also  the  rose  on  the  ground,  picks  it 

up  stealthily,  kisses  it  and  puts  it  in  his  bosom. 

MICHAL   suddenly    raises    her  head  and  sees  the 

stealthy  motion  of  his  hand. 

MICHAL  sharply 

What  are  you  doing  ? 

DAVID 
I  am  putting  away  a  memory. 

MICHAL  bitterly 

A  token  from  some  hill-girl. 
[62] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

DAVID 

Mayhap  this  is  true. 

AHINOAM  opens  the  door  of  the  palace  and  calls. 

AHINOAM 
Daughter ! 

MICHAL 

Yes,  mother,  I  am  working  the  pattern. 
She  hastily  takes  up  her  embroidery. 

AHINOAM 
Do  not  stay  too  long  in  the  garden. 

MICHAL 

I  am  waiting  to — speak  to — someone. 
Exit  AHINOAM,  2  E  L. 

DAVID 

Did  you  wish  to — speak  with  someone  else,  Lady 
Michal  ? 

MICHAL  hesitating 

Yes,  I  wished,  I  wish 

ELEAZER  comes  in  sight  down  the  path. 
I  wish  to  speak  with  Eleazer. 

ELEAZER 

rubbing  his  chin  humorously 

Don't  waste  sweet  words  on  the  likes  of  me,  Lady 
Michal. 

[63] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 

would-be  haughtily 

I  wished  to  ask  you,  Eleazer — to  say,  it  looks  like 
clear  weather  to-morrow. 

ELEAZER 

with  great  enthusiasm 

It  do  so,  Lady  Michal,  and  that  puts  me  in  mind 
of  my  herbs  for  Hurai.      Walking  away,  R. 
There  is  never  a  drawback  to  leaving  two 
lovers  alone. 
Exit  ELEAZER,  1  E  R. 

DAVID 

May  I  sit  beside  you  for  a  moment,  Michal  ? 
MICHAL  moves  to  make  room  for  him  on  the  bench. 

MICHAL 

As  you  please. 

DAVID,  to  her  disappointment,  seats  himself  on  the 

grass. 

DAVID 

It  is  as  you  please,  Michal.     I   fear  I  do   not 
please  you. 

MICHAL 
Do  you  wish  to  please  me  ? 

DAVID 

Lady  Michal 

[64] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE     ONE 

MICHAL 

Do  not  call  me  so.     I  am   a  girl,  younger  than 
you. 

DAVID 

You  seem  a  child,  but  I  must  remember  that  you 
are  a  king's  daughter. 

MICHAL 
I  would  that  you  might  forget. 

DAVID  deeply 

Ah,  Michal,  I  would  that  I  might  forget ! 
A  pause  of  embarrassment  between  them. 
Let  us  speak  of  other  things,  Michal.     How  do 
the  days  fare  with  you  ? 

MICHAL 

I  must  study  and  I  must  read.     This  morning  the 
rabbi  read  with  me. 

DAVID 

What  was  the  lesson  ? 

An  undercurrent  of  tenderness  runs  through  their 

talk. 

MICHAL 

It  was   of— suddenly  diffident — I  have  forgotten 
the  theme. 

[65] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

made  eager  by  her  shyness. 

You  have  not  forgotten  so  soon  ?  Of  our  first 
father  ? 

MICHAL 
No. 

DAVID 
Of  Pharaoh  and  the  Red  Sea  ? 

MICHAL 

Ah,  more  interesting  than  that.  I  mean — it  was 
of  a  man  and  a — woman. 

DAVID 

Who  loved  each  other  ? 

MICHAL 

Of  Rachel  and  how  her  lover  served  for  her. 

DAVID 

He  served  for  her  seven  years  and  it  seemed  but  a 
day  because  of  the  love  he  bare  her.  That 
is  how  a  man  may  love. 

MICHAL  musingly 

Seven  years  she  waited  for  him.  That  was  a 
woman's  love. 

[66] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE     ONE 

DAVID 

Michal,   would  you   wait   for   a   lover    so    many 
years  ? 

MICHAL 
Ah,  I  should  not  wish  to — wait  so  long. 

DAVID 
Woman's  love  is  like  the  wind. 

MICHAL 

Nay,  think  of  the  love  between  Ruth  and  Naomi. 

DAVID  quoting 

For  whither  thou  goest  I  will  go  and  whither  thou 
lodgest  I  will  lodge 

MICHAL 

Thy  people  shall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my 
God. 

DAVID 

They  were  two  women,  Michal,  who  loved  one  an 
other  so. 

MICHAL 
Nay,  but  the  love  of  woman  to  man  is  deeper  yet. 

DAVID  leaning  to  her 

Say  you  so,  Michal  ? 

MICHAL 

My  heart  says  so. 

[67] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID  impassioned 

I  would  serve  seven  years,  ay,  twice  seven  years, 
to  win  the  woman  I  love.  And  you,  Michal, 
would  you  give  me  hope  ? 

MICHAL 
No,  no. 

DAVID 
No  hope  ? 
He  rises  and  MICHAL  also. 

MICHAL 

I  should  not  ask  you  to  serve  for — me  seven  years, 
David. 

DAVID  turning    away 

I  have  soared  too  high. 

MICHAL 

I  had  rather  be  happy — now! 
DAVID  looks  back  at  her,  reads  her  face. 

DAVID 

You ? 

MICHAL 
Yes,  David. 

DAVID 
Michal! 

He  is  about  to  take  her  to  his  arms,  when  a  noise 
and  stir  of  people  comes  from  the  R. 
[68] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE    ONE 

MICHAL 
Listen,  David. 
SAUL  and  AHINOAM  enter,  2  E  L. 

SAUL 
What  tumult  is  this  ? 

DAVID  going  to  L  to  look 
My  lord,  the  people  swarm  to  our  gates. 
Enter,  R  and  L,  a  hurly-burly  of  people,  preceded 
from  the  R  by  SAPH,  a  tall  Philistine  of  insolent  de 
meanor,  with  a  body-guard  of  two.  There  are 
townspeople  and  laboring  folk  from  their  daily  oc 
cupation.  ELIAB  with  his  roughly  moulded  vessel 
on  his  head,  a  weaver  with  his  balls  of  wool,  a  mil 
ler,  his  clothes  dusty  with  meal.  From  the  palace 
come  MERAB,  PHALTIEL,  an  apish-looking  man  of 
ignoble  bearing,  DOEG,  crafty  and  sullen,  JONA 
THAN  and  others. 

SAUL  to  SAPH 

What  is  your  message  ? 

SAPH 

in  loud  and  insolent  tones 

A  message  from  Philistia,  defiance  from  Philistia 
and  from  Goliath,  her  champion.   Who  of  ye 
will  meet  him  in  battle  ?     Ye  children  of  the 
[69] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

jackals,  striped   barley-eaters,  slaves   of  the 

hill-god  Yahweh! 

As  SAPH  speaks  the  people  edge  away  from  him  ab 
jectly,  but  DAVID  pushes  forward  in  indignation. 

SAUL 

Who  speaks  to  offer  himself  as  champion  for  his 
people  ? 

SAPH 

By  the  wooden  feet  of  Dagon,  ye  are  silent.     Al 
mighty  is  Dagon,  god  of  Philistia,  and  great  is 
Goliath,  their  champion. 
Exit,  2  E  R,  SAPH. 

SAUL 

Ye  that  clamor  so  in  times  of  peace,  in  peril  your 
tongues  are  still. 

DOEG 

after  conferring  with  PHALTIEL 
If  it  please  my  lord,  the  king,  to  offer  largess 

SAUL 
To  the  victor  any  reward,  even  the  hand  of  the 

king's  daughter. 

MICHAL'S  and  DAVID'S  looks,  as  by  a  common 
thought,  are  drawn  together.  DOEG  pushes  PHAL 
TIEL  forward.  He  elbows  back  with  a  bleating 

laugh. 

[70] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

DAVID 

My  lord,  your  servant  will  go  and  fight  with  this 
Philistine. 

After  the  first  stupefied  silence,  a  ripple  of  con 
temptuous  laughter  runs  round  the  place. 

More  ringingly  defiant. 

My  lord,  your  servant  will  go  and  fight  this  Philis 
tine. 

The  laughter  is  hushed  at  the  look  in  DAVID'S  face 

as  he  surveys  the  people. 

SAUL 

Here,  indeed,  among  all  the  craven  host  of  Israel, 
is  a  heart  undaunted.     David,  you  shall  in 
deed  go,  but  how  shall  you  prevail,  a  young 
man,  umised  to  the  weight  of  armor  ? 
DAVID 

My  lord,  I  have  contended  with  the  lion  in  his 
wilderness  and  my  hand  did  not  fail. 
Neither  shall  I  fail  in  this  endeavor. 

Looking  upward  as  if  in  prayer. 

My  times  are  in  Thy  hand ! 
SAUL 

Ask  what  reward  you  will,  David,  my  son,  and  ye, 
my  people,  be  surety  unto  him  that  the  re 
ward  is  not  denied. 

[71] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

PEOPLE 
David,  David! 

DAVID 

The  hand  of  Michal,  the  king's  daughter! 
A  murmur  of  surprise.     DOEG  pushes  PHALTIEL 
forward. 

PHALTIEL 
O  king,  remember  me. 

DAVID 

Who  speaks  ? 

PHALTIEL 

with  a  bleating  laugh 
Phaltiel,  prince  of  Laish. 

DAVID 
Will  you  then  go  out  against  Goliath,  O  Phaltiel, 

prince  of  Laish. 
With  a  bleat,  PHALTIEL  sinks  back  into  the  crowd. 

SAUL 
This  reward  you  shall  have,  David,  the  hand  of 

Michal,  my  daughter. 

DAVID  kneels  to  kiss  SAUL'S  hand,  rises  again. 
To  the  people. 

All  ye  depart  hence,  and  we  shall  presently  send 
forth  our  champion. 

[72] 


ACT    TWO:    SCENE    ONE 

Exeunt,  R  and  L,  all  but  DAVID,  JONATHAN,  and 

MlCHAL. 

David,  in  our  arms  you  shall  be  clad  and  go  forth 
like  the  sun  for  splendor. 

DAVID        stretching  himself 
In  truth,  my  lord,  I  am  unused  to    armor.     It 

would  become  me  ill. 
He  stoops  to  select  a  stone  from  the  path. 
I  beg  of  you  this  stone  from  the  garden  of  the 

princess.     So,  with  my  sling,  I  shall  be  a 

man  of  war  in  your  service. 
He  turns  to  JONATHAN  and  they  start  to  go,  2  E  R. 

SAUL 

You  would  go  thus  unarmed  ? 

DAVID 

My  feet  burn  for  the  road. 
Farewell,  farewell,  Michal. 
Exeunt,  2  E  R,  DAVID  and  JONATHAN. 

SAUL 
A   fiery   youth.      Jehovah    speed    him.      Come, 

daughter. 

Exit  SAUL,  2  E  L.    MICHAL  stands  alone  in  the  c  of 
the  garden. 

[73] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 
He  has  gone  and  Jonathan  with  him.     He  has 

gone  and  I  am  alone. 

DAVID  runs  in  alone,  from  R.  He  speaks  breath 
lessly,  passionately. 

DAVID 

I  could  not  leave  you  thus,  beloved,  heart's  de 
sire. 

DOEG  appears,  1  E  L,  black  and  sinister,  peeping 
around  the  bole  of  a  tree.  As  DAVID  and  MICHAL 
embrace,  DOEG  speaks.  DAVID  takes  the  rose  from 
his  bosom,  kisses  it. 

DAVID 

It  is  your  rose  I  wear  in  my  bosom.     It  is  for  you 
I  fight,  for  you,  you,  you ! 

DOEG  aside 

She  will  be  giving  her  roses  to  a  new  lover  soon, 
when  David  is  food  for  the  dogs .    Grr-grr-grr ! 

DAVID 

Fare  you  well,  God  be  with  you. 

MICHAL 

Ah,   wait,   wait!     My   heart  bursts   within   me. 
How  will  you  go  without  sword  or  shield,  how 
[74] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

will  you  slay  Goliath,  the  giant  of  the  Philis 
tines  ? 

DAVID  handles  his  sling  for  action,  aiming  at  DOEG 
by  the  bole  of  the  tree.  He  shoots  from  his  sling 
and  almost  instantaneously  comes  a  cry  of  pain 
from  DOEG.  With  his  hand  to  his  ear,  DOEG  dis 
appears,  1  E  L.  MICHAL  has  turned  to  look. 

DAVID 

still  in  the  vigorous  attitude  of  a  slinger 
Even  as  my  stone  stung  the  ear  of  yon  eaves 
dropper,  so  will  the  pebble  pierce  the  heart  of 
Goliath. 

CURTAIN. 

The  curtain  rises  and  discovers  MICHAL  alone  in 
the  garden.  The  light  is  dim  as  at  twilight  and 
grows  gradually  dimmer.  MICHAL  prays: 

MICHAL 

O  Thou,  grant  me  to  know  the  end!    Send  me 
a  vision,  a  dream ! 

DARK  CHANGE 

As  it  gradually  lightens,  the  field  of  Ephes-Dammim 
is  disclosed  where  the  combat  is  to  take  place.  The 

[75] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

gorge  of  the  brook  runs  through  the  c.  On  either 
side  are  the  opposing  armies,  the  Israelites  in 
glitter  of  armor,  their  arms  upflung  as  in  joyous 
acclaim.  The  Philistines  with  heads  drooped 
and  faces  turned  for  retreat.  The  central  figure 
in  their  midst  is  DAVID,  on  a  knoll  above  the 
fallen  body  of  GOLIATH.  The  drawn  sword  is  in 
his  hand,  but  his  face  is  uplifted  to  heaven  in 
thanksgiving. 

CURTAIN 
END  OF  SCENE  I 


[76] 


ACT  II 

SCENE  II:  THE  WITCH  OF  ENDOR'S  HUT  ON 
THE  ROAD  TO  GiBEAH.  A  low  and  sordid  room, 
scantily  furnished.  Night  and  a  storm.  A  fire 
blazing,  L  c.  A  kettle  on  the  hearth.  Hooks  in 
the  wall  to  one  side  of  the  fire.  Dried  herbs  hung 
from  the  ceiling.  Human  and  animal  skulls 
grinning  on  the  walls.  A  low  table,  c,  with  a 
candle  lighted.  Behind  it  a  bench  with  large  feet  in 
the  similitude  of  spiders.  A  stool  by  the  fireplace. 
Shuttered  window,  c.  Down-stage,  R,  a  small  door 
opens  to  an  inner  chamber. 

Discovered,  the  WITCH  OF  ENDOR,  an  old  gaunt 
woman,  wicked  of  eye  and  sharp-lipped,  bending 
over  the  fireplace.  She  thrusts  her  chin  forward 
when  she  speaks,  has  a  thin,  rasping  voice  that, 
when  she  is  moved,  rings  deep  and  thrilling.  The 
storm  howls. 

WITCH 

poking  the  fire  with  a  stick 
How  the  fire  sputters !     Burn,  burn,  burn ! 
[77] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

A  pause. 

'Tis  the  black  wind  outside  that  brings  the  fire 
disease.  It  frets.  Ooo-oh,  oo-oh!  Sputter, 
sputter,  sputter!  Ah,  an  ill  night  for  man 
to  be  abroad,  but  he  will  come  to-night.  I 
shall  hold  him  like  a  rat  in  a  trap.  Nibble, 
nibble!  Is  the  bait  toothsome,  O  Saul? 

She  goes  to  the  window,,  opens  the  shutter  and  peers 

out. 

How  it  howls,  as  if  all  the  wolves  of  Lebanon  were 
forth.  Ooo-oh,  oo-oh! 

She  listens  sharply.     A  knock  comes  at  the  door. 

The  window  or  the  door  ? 

Knock  is  repeated. 

Knock,  then,  to  your  heart's  content.  There  are 
only  two  who  enter  this  eve,  the  slain  and 
the  slayer.  Ha-ha. 

Knock  and  voice. 

DAVID 

I  pray  you,  open  the  door. 

WITCH 
A  pleasant  voice,  by  my  body. 

DAVID 

Good  neighbor! 

[78] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

WITCH 
What  d'ye  want  ? 

DAVID 

Shelter  from  the  storm. 

WITCH 
Who  are  you,  in  the  name  of  Beelzebub  ? 

DAVID 
A  pilgrim  and  a  stranger. 

WITCH 
What  do  you  this  hour  of  the  night  ? 

DAVID 
I  am  eager  on  the  road  to — my  dear. 

WITCH 

He  runs  after  a  girl.     He  will  do  nobody  harm. 
She  unbolts  the  door  and  opens  it. 
In  with  you,  then,  in  Beelzebub's  name. 
Enter  DAVID  wet,  stormbeaten,  weary. 

DAVID 
I  thank  you,  good  dame  and  neighbor. 

WITCH 

Men  do  not  call  me  good  dame,  nor  am  I  your 
neighbor. 

[79] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 
He  is  my  neighbor  who  is  my  friend. 

WITCH 

You  are  over-zealous  to  name  me  friend  when  I 
kept  you  standing  in  the  weather. 

DAVID 

throwing  off  his  wet  cloak 

Lo,  I  am  within.  You  give  me  roof  and  shelter. 
You  are  my  friend  and  I  yours. 

WITCH 
By  the  idols  of  Egypt,  I  like  you  full  well.     Draw 

up  here  to  my  fire. 

She  hangs  up  the  cloak  on  the  nails  by  the  fire. 
Tell  me  your  story — an  you  tell  me  not  true,  you 

shall  fare  ill,  for  I  read  the  souls  of  men. 
DAVID  seats  himself  on  the  stool  by  the  fire.     The 
WITCH  behind  him  watches,  her  fingers  at  the  knife 
which  is  half  concealed  in  her  bosom. 

DAVID 

It  is  hospitable  to  give  ear  to  the  traveller's  tale, 
in  so  far  as  he  pleases  to  speak,  but  further 
to  force  him,  that  is  no  hospitality. 

WITCH 

I  like  you  better.     Speak  on. 
[80] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 
I  come  from  the  camp  at  Ephes-Dammim 

WITCH 
Ha,  you  are  deserter,  a  hater  of  Saul ! 

DAVID 

Nay,  I  am  not  deserter,  for  I  fought  not  with 
the  army  at  Ephes-Dammim.  Yet  at  Ephes- 
Dammim  I  fought  and  am  now  flying  thence, 
hurriedly  at  night,  to  Gibeah. 

WITCH 

You  speak  like  a  wise  man,  in  riddles.  Say, 
what  of  the  giant  Goliath  and  of  the  Boaster, 
one  David,  who  swore  to  slay  him  ? 

DAVID 
It  is  because  of  that  David  I  am  here  to-night. 

WITCH 

You  are  of  us,  I  see,  a  hater  of  the  mad  king  and 
his  upstart  herdling.  You  shall  have  a  hand 
in  the  enterprise  this  night. 

DAVID 

his  hand  upon  his  sword 
I  am  ready  for  the  enterprise. 
The  WITCH  moves  about  the  room  apprehensively, 
[81] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

casting  suspicious  glances  at  DAVID.     She  fancies 
a  sound  at  the  door  and  listens. 
Do  you  await  another  traveller  ? 

WITCH 

It  is  of  him  I  would  tell  you.     Ay,  one  of  the 
mighty. 

DAVID 
Strange  houses  he  visits  and  strange  hours  he 

takes ! 

The  WITCH  springs  at  his  throat  with  her  knife  but 
DAVID,  watchful,  stays  her. 

WITCH 

Not  stranger  than  you,  spy,  spy ! 
DAVID  turns  the  knife  in  her  hand  till  she  screams 
with  pain  and  drops  it. 

DAVID 

It  is  not  the  good  and  innocent  who  have  dread  of 

spies. 

He  holds  her  by  the  wrists  while  she  cowers  before 
him. 

WITCH 

Ah,  my  lord,  my  lord,  have  pity  on  me  and  help 
me.     I  feared  you  as  I  fear  all  men.     For 
whatever  befalls  I  am  dead  this  night. 
[82] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 

Speak  me  the  truth ! 

WITCH 

I  am  sought  this  night  by  a  great  prince,  one  of 
the  mighty,  that  I  may  predict  for  him  the 
future,  and  he  would  find  me  alone.  Also  this 
night  my  son  Doeg  comes  to  me.  If  they 
two  meet,  the  mighty  one  will  slay  my  son 
and  me  also,  for  that  I  have  betrayed  him, 
for  he  would  not  have  it  known  that  he 
traffics  with  me.  Yet  if  I  deny  Doeg  my 
son,  Doeg  my  son  will  return  to  slay  me,  for 
he  is  a  man  of  wrath. 

DAVID 

What  is  my  part  ? 

WITCH 

Keep  you  the  door  against  my  son.  Defend  it 
with  your  sword,  that  he  enter  not.  After 
ward,  you  shall  have  of  the  gold  that  I  get, 
a  goodly  portion. 

DAVID 

What  of  that  mighty  prince  when  he  beholds  me  ? 
Will  he  not  think  you  have  betrayed  him  into 
my  hands  ? 

[83] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

WITCH 

You  are  a  youth  and  Doeg  a  bearded  man,  known 
to  all  Benjamin.  I  will  clothe  you  as  my  ser 
vant  and  you  can  feign  sleep  upon  this  bench. 
Do  you  understand  ? 

DAVID  seizing  her 

The  prince  that  visits  the — Witch  of  Endor — 
She  cowers 

is  Saul,  King  of  Israel,  seeking  traffic  with  a 
familiar  spirit.  Doeg  comes  to  slay  him  and 
you  are  his  accomplice.  I,  feigning  sleep  upon 
that  bench,  will  be  murdered,  and  conven 
iently  thrust  aside.  I  understand. 

WITCH  trembling 

Oh,  lord,  lord,  who  are  you  ? 

DAVID 

I  am  that  boaster,  one  David. 

WITCH 

You  have  spoken  the  truth,  but  not  wholly  the 
truth.  Ah,  loose  me,  loose!  Behold  that 
knife  upon  the  floor.  I  cannot  harm  you. 
I  am  in  your  hands. 

DAVID  looses  her.     Picks  up  the  knife  and  puts  it 
in  his  girdle. 

[84] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 
The  truth! 

WITCH 

It  is  indeed  Saul  who  comes,  and  Doeg  who  would 
slay  him.     But  I  would  save  my  lord  the 
king,  if  I  could,  yet  what  am  I  worth,  an  old 
woman  and  feeble  ? 
A  double  knock  at  the  door. 

WITCH 

I  come,  my  lord. 

She  hurries  about  the  room,  fetching  for  DAVID 
from  a  chest  an  old  cloak. 
Yes,  lord,  I  open.     To  DAVID.     See  nothing  with 

your  eyes,  hear  nothing  with  your  ears. 
DAVID  stretches  himself  on  the  bench,  feigning 
sleep.  The  WITCH  opens  the  door,  bowing  deeply. 
My  lord,  enter  the  house  of  your  humble  servant. 
Enter  SAUL  and  MICHAL,  SAUL  cloaked,  his  face 
shrouded.  MICHAL'S  face  veiled. 

SAUL 

Were  you  not  ready  ? 

He  sees  DAVID,  who  seems  in  profound  sleep,  his 
face  hidden  in  the  folds  of  his  mantle. 
Who  is  yonder? 

[85] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

WITCH 

Only  my  servant,  lord,  a  brutish  lad  and  asleep. 
Awake,  he  knows  nothing.     Asleep,  a  stone! 
She  kicks  DAVID'S   foot.      He   does   not    move, 
breathes   heavily. 
Witness,  lord. 
MICHAL  lays  a  hand  on  her  father's  arm. 

MICHAL 

Father,  grant  me  a  word  with  this  woman. 
At  the  sound  of  MICHAL'S  voice,  DAVID  starts,  half 
raises  his  head,  then  lets  it  fall  again.     SAUL  and 
MICHAL  both  look  at  him. 

WITCH 

He  dreams  of  the  plough  and  the  ploughshare. 
He  has  been  in  the  field  all  day.  What  do 
you  wish,  lady? 

MICHAL 

I  wish  the  interpretation  of  a  dream.  I  dreamed 
of  a  field  of  battle  and  one  lay  slain  and  one 
stood  above  with  a  drawn  sword. 

WITCH 

Saw  you  the  face  of  the  slayer  or  of  the  slain  ? 
[86] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

MICHAL 

The  face  of  the  slayer  was  as  the  face  of  an  angel, 
but  the  slain  I  could  not  see. 

WITCH       in  her  deep  voice 
One  is  thy  lover  who  hath  slain 

Yet  not  with  stroke  of  sword; 
He  is  a  servant,  yet  one  day 

He  shall  be  king  and  lord. 

MICHAL 

I  understand  not  the  interpretation.     The  dream 
was  a  good  dream? 

WITCH 

Ay,  a  good  dream  for  them  as  find  it  good,  but  a 
bad  dream  for  some  others. 

SAUL 
Beldame,  let  us  to  our  business. 

WITCH 
What  do  you  wish,  my  lord  ? 

SAUL 

Show  me  him  who  shall  rule  after  me. 
[87] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

WITCH        in  her  deep  voice 
The  past  is  plain  before  mine  eyes, 

Old  deaths  and  dooms  long  overpast ; 
In  present  knowledge  I  am  wise, 

But  ah !  the  future  is  sealed  fast. 

My  lord,  I  will  call  from  the  grave  one  who  is 
wiser  than  I. 

SAUL 

You  will  call  one  from  the  dead  ? 
The  WITCH   opens  the  door,  R.     Bluish  flames 
stream  out. 

WITCH 
Come. 
SAUL  reluctantly  follows  her. 

MICHAL, 
Ah,  I  fear,  I  fear! 

The  door  closes  behind  them.  MICHAL  sits  on  the 
stool  by  the  fire,  facing  down  stage,  her  back  to 
DAVID.  His  head  rests  on  the  table,  away  from 
her.  She  looks  curiously  about  the  room,  sees  the 
cloak  hung  up  to  dry.  Then  turns  her  head  to 
look  at  DAVID.  At  the  self -same  moment  he  has 
turned  to  look  at  her.  Both  instantly  resume  their 
former  positions.  MICHAL  hums  uneasily  and 
[88] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

moves  her  stool  against  the  wall  so  as  to  have  a 
rest  for  her  head.  After  a  few  minutes  and  more 
cautiously,  the  stolen  glance  is  repeated,  to  their 
mutual  embarrassment. 

MICHAL  angry 

I  will  not  have  it.     Ill-mannered  servant  of  an  old 

sorceress!     Peeper  and  pryer! 
DAVID'S  head  is  again  on  the  table  as  if  in  deep 
sleep. 

Go  to  sleep,  then.     It  is  the  hour  for  sleep. 
He  breathes  heavily. 
Clown!     Have  you  nothing  to  do  but  sleep  and 

snore  in  a  lady's  presence  ? 

DAVID'S   hand  falls  to   his  side.     MICHAL   ob 
serves  it. 
That  hand  is  not  the  hand  of  a  clown.     It  minds 

me  of  David's  hand,  David's  fingers  on  his 

harp. 

Singing  softly  to  herself,  she  falls  asleep.  After  a 
few  minutes  DAVID  rises  softly,  goes  to  her,  stands 
above  her  lovingly,  is  startled  when  she  stirs,  looks 
at  the  door  where  SAUL  and  the  WITCH  have  dis 
appeared.  He  takes  his  cloak  and  places  it  around 
her  shoulders.  As  he  is  doing  so  there  falls  from 
the  pocket  his  sling.  The  rattle  of  this  on  the 
[89] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

floor  awakens  her.     She  sits  up  to  find  him  kneel 
ing  at  her  feet. 

DAVID  gently 

Michal,  speak  not,  do  not  stir!     It  is  I,  David. 

MICHAL 

You,  David,  here,  a  servant  to  the  Witch  of  En- 
dor! 

DAVID 

This  night  only.  I  was  on  the  road  to  Gibeah,  to 
you.  The  storm  and  the  driving  rain  over 
took  me.  My  beast  was  spent. 

MICHAL 

And  Goliath,  the  combat  ? 
DAVID  picks  up  the  sling. 

DAVID 

It  was  victory,  with  this !  But  hush !  We  are  in 
an  evil  place.  It  is  not  the  house  for  you. 

MICHAL 
It  was  my  father's  wish. 

DAVID 

Alas  for  your  father  that  he  has  communion  with 
soothsayers  and  diviners !     He  is  entrapped. 
[90] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

MICHAL 
What,  what?     No,  no. 

DAVID 
His  enemies  lie  in  wait  for  him. 

MICHAL 
Let  us  warn  him,  let  us  fly! 

DAVID 
It  is  impossible.     But  fear  not.     I  will  serve  you 

to  the  end. 

At  a  sound  from  the  door,  R,  DAVID  quickly  rolls 
over  on  the  floor,  feigning  sleep.  MICHAL  closes 
her  eyes.  The  WITCH  enters,  R,  sees  them  both 
asleep.  Chuckles. 

WITCH 

Both  feigning  or  both  real  ? 
She  shrugs  her  shoulders. 
A   witch's   servant   and   a   king's   daughter!     A 

pretty  pair! 

She  goes  to  the  window,  peers  out  into  the  night,  re 
turns,  c.  Shakes  her  fist  at  DAVID'S  sleeping  form. 
I  could  knife  you  now,  but  your  time  will  come 

soon  enough. 

Exit  WITCH,  R.     DAVID  springs  up  and  feels  of 
his  sword.     A  loud  knock  at  the  door. 
[91] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID  to  MlCHAL 

Veil  yourself.     Sit  quiet. 
Imitating  the  WITCH'S  voice. 
Who  goes  there  ? 

DOEG 
I,  Doeg. 

DAVID  still  feigning 

Wait  a  little. 

DOEG 

Witch- woman,     hast     repented     our     compact? 
Open  to  us. 

DAVID 
To  us,  you  say! 

DOEG 
Open  or  I  tear  down  your  house. 

DAVID  in  his  own  voice 
Stand  back  in  the  king's  name. 
The  door  is  battered  down.  DAVID  makes  ready, 
holding  his  sword.  MICHAL  stands  shrinking 
against  the  wall.  DOEG  and  two  men  burst  into 
the  room. 

DOEG 

surveying  the  situation 

Three  birds  at  a  stone.     The  black  hawk  and  the 
white  pigeon 

[92] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

He  surveys  DAVID  contemptuously. 
and  the  upstart  jackdaw.  Fall  to,  my  men. 
The  first  man  that  would  pass  DAVID  to  get  to 
MICHAL  is  felled  at  a  blow.  There  follows  a  much 
severer  struggle  between  DAVID  and  the  two. 
DAVID  has  one  by  the  throat  when  a  cry  from 
MICHAL  warns  him  of  DOEG'S  attack  in  the  rear. 
He  turns  in  time  to  save  himself.  DOEG  at  last  is 
struck  down.  He  falls  heavily.  The  WITCH 
opens  the  door  and  bluish  flames  stream  out  as  be 
fore.  She  sees  the  three  prostrate  figures,  DAVID 
triumphant  in  the  c,  breathing  hard,  his  forehead 
damp  with  sweat.  She  goes  to  DOEG,  who  lies 
prostrate. 

WITCH  bitterly 

Bravely  have  ye  fought.     A  stout  fighter,  son  of 

mine! 

DOEG  turns  on  his  elbow,  groans.  DAVID  goes  to 
him,  plants  his  heel  on  his  breast,  points  his  sword 
at  him. 

DOEG 
Mercy ! 

WITCH 

He  is  an  evil  one,  but  my  only  one.     Spare  him, 
lord! 

[93] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

It  is  not  my  business  to  slaughter  cattle.  Let  him 
lie. 

WITCH  grovelling 

Most  gracious  prince ! 

DAVID 

Silence.     Bring  hither  the  king. 
The  WITCH  hesitates. 

MICHAL 

My  father,  my  father!  No  harm  has  befallen 
him  ? 

WITCH 

He  waketh  from  deep  trance.     His  feet  fail  him. 
DAVID  opens  the  door,  R. 

DAVID 

0  Saul,  King  of  Israel,  come  forth. 
MICHAL  comes  forward  tremblingly. 

MICHAL 

1  fear,  I  fear  she  has  bewitched  him. 

WITCH 

Nay,  he  is  the  anointed  of  Israel.  I  durst  not 
touch  a  hair  of  his  head  or  I  should  be  ac 
cursed. 

[94] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

SAUL  comes  to  the  door,  R,  his  hands  to  his  eyes,  as 
if  blinded  by  a  dazzling  light.  The  bluish  flames  seen 
within  gradually  die  down  No  one  speaks.  They 
watch  SAUL.  MICJHAL  behind  DAVID  with  hands 
outstretched.  DAVID  in  c  looking  compassion 
ately  at  SAUL.  The  WITCH  crouches  at  DAVID'S 
feet. 

SAUL 

in  a  strange  voice  as  of  one  in  a  trance 

And  the  prophet  spake,  declaring  unto  me:  "He 

whom  thine  eyes  first  fall  upon,  he  it  is  and 

his  seed  shall  sit  upon  the  throne  after  thee. 

He  whom  thine  eyes  first  fall  upon ' ' 

SAUL  drops  the  mantle  from  before  his  eyes,  passes 
his  hand  across,  stands  face  to  face  with  DAVID. 
DAVID  drops  to  his  knees. 

DAVID 
My  lord  king. 

SAUL 
Who  and  what  art  thou  ? 

DAVID 

Knowest  thou  not  me  ?     I  am  David,  son  of  Jesse. 

SAUL 

He  whom  thine  eyes  first  fall  upon,  he  it  is  and  his 
seed  shall  rule  after  thee. 
[95] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL  pleadingly 

David,  whom  thou  hast  called  the  sweet  singer  of 
Israel. 

DAVID 
My  lord  king! 

SAUL 

David !     And  it  is  thou  shalt  sit  upon  my  throne  ? 
With  fearful  outburst  of  passion. 
Usurper,  supplanter,  viper  that  I  have  nourished 

in  my  bosom. 

He  takes  the  dagger  from  his  girdle  and  makes  as 
if  to  stab  DAVID.  MICHAL  interposes  herself, 
staying  him  momentarily. 

MICHAL 

Nay,  father,  my  father,  you  are  mad.  David 
hath  fought  for  us  this  night,  for  you  and  for 
me.  Behold  these  that  would  have  slain  you. 

SAUL  looks  about  him  at  the  dead,  at  DAVID  who 

still  kneels,  at  the  WITCH  who  supports  on  her  lap 

the  head  of  her  son. 

SAUL 

You  have  done  this  for  me  ? 

DAVID 

For  the  king  and  the  king's  daughter. 
[96] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

SAUL 

Rise  up,  my  son.  The  gibbering  prophet  has  lied 
to  me,  and  this  evil  one.  Yet  have  I  also 
sinned,  seeking  knowledge  from  spirits  that 
peep  and  mutter. 

A    noise    of   troops   heard   coming.     Shouts   and 

huzzahs.     DAVID  opens  the  shutters. 

DAVID 

It  is  the  army  of  Israel  marching  from  Ephes- 

Dammim.     For  lo,  it  is  already  morning. 
MICHAL  opens  the  door  and  the  light  streams  in. 
The  noise  grows  louder. 

SAUL  to  MICHAL 

Yet  do  I  fear  him,  because  of  the  prophecy. 

MICHAL 
He  is  my  betrothed 

SHOUTS 
Goliath  slain.     Great  is  David  our  champion. 

David,  David! 

SAUL  goes  to  the  door.     The  procession  halts. 
Saul,    Saul!     Mighty   is    Saul.     The   Philistines 
have  fallen. 

[97] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

SAUL 

Hearken,  my  people. 

The  PEOPLE  enter  the  hut.     They  fall  back,  leav 
ing  SAUL  and  DAVID  in  the  c. 
This  is  David,  the  Champion  of  Israel,  who  hath 
slain  Goliath,  son  of  the  Rephaim. 

PEOPLE 
Huzzah : 

SAUL 

craftily,  looking  at  DAVID  with  narrow  eyes  of  ha 
tred  and  fear. 

But  to  win  the  hand  of  Michal  the  princess  he  is 
not  content  to  stop  with  a  little,  but  is  zeal 
ous  for  larger  victory.     Is  it  not  so,  my  son 
David? 
SAUL  turns  to  DAVID,  a  grim  smile  on  his  face. 

DAVID 

I  will  accomplish  to  the  uttermost  for  her  sake, 
my  lord. 

MICHAL 

Behold,  my  father,  he  has  done  already — enough ! 
SAUL  does  not  heed  her. 

SAUL 

For  her  sake  then,  and  for  mine  whom  he  loves  so 
well,  he  will  sally  into  the  country  of  the 
[98] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     TWO 

Philistines,  utterly  to  abolish  our  ancient  foe. 
He  will  take  of  them  twenty  towns,  their 
captains  and  their  young  men,  and  their  ban 
ners  will  he  bring  back  to  Saul,  his  king. 

Again  he  smiles  grimly  at  DAVID. 

Is  it  not  so,  my  son  David  ? 

DAVID 
It  is  as  you  will,  lord  king. 

SAUL 

It  is  my  will,  and  Michal's  also. 
He  takes  her  arm  sternly.     She  bows  her  head  in 
assent. 

DAVID 

So  be  it,  O  Saul! 
His  enthusiasm  rises. 
I  will  conquer  your  foe  and  they  shall  be  even  as 

these  are,  dead  at  your  feet,  O  king. 
He  seizes  a  banner  from  a  standard-bearer   and 
raises  it  aloft. 

Against  the  Philistines!     The  banner  of  David! 
Who  with  me? 

SHOUTS 
1,1. 

DAVID  moves  to  the  door,  the  people  following. 
He  waves  the  banner  aloft. 
[99] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL  weeping 

He  is  a  dead  man  already.     You  have  murdered 
my  David.     Oh,  father,  my  father! 

DAVID 

Nay,  I  return !     In  the  service  of  the  king  and  the 
king's  daughter! 

CURTAIN 

END   OF  SCENE   H 


[100] 


ACT  III 

SCENE  I:  ROOM  IN  SAUL'S  PALACE.  A  richly 
decorated  room  on  the  ground  floor,  curtains,  hang 
ings  of  Tyrian  purple  and  silk,  cushions  on  the 
floor,  swinging  lamps,  fretted  work,  sconces  with 
candles,  a  chair  of  state,  R  c,  with  sculptured  legs 
in  the  likeness  of  kneeling  lions,  an  ottoman,  L  c, 
a  harp  hung  on  wall,  L.  Low  stairs,  1  E  R;  2  E  R 
lead  to  upper  galleried  rooms  in  the  palace.  L  E 
conducts  to  street,  c,  back-stage  is  a  broad-latticed 
window,  opening  to  the  floor.  The  upper  half  of 
the  shutters  is  open,  showing  the  sky  of  night. 
Lower  half  closed,  but  not  so  high  that  a  man  may 
not  enter  from  the  street  by  overleaping  it.  Below 
the  window  is  a  divan.  It  is  night.  The  candles 
and  lamps  are  lighted.  A  circle  of  sewing-women 
and  tailors  squat  on  the  floor,  busily  occupied  with 
their  work.  Heaps  of  gauzy  rainbow-colored  ma 
terial  about  them.  Men  cut  out,  with  the  aid  of 
rule.  Women  embroider  and  sew.  They  work  in 
silence  wearily.  One  after  another,  several  fall 

[  101  ] 


DAY-ID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

asleep,  sinking  downward  on  the  floor.  They  are 
prodded  with  a  rule  by  him  who  seems  chief  tailor. 
Enter,  %  E  R,  JONATHAN  and  MICHAL.  The  sleep 
ers  spring  up,  resume  their  work.  MICHAL 
walks  impetuously  to  them  with  a  motion  of  the 
hands  to  dismiss  and  scatter. 

MICHAL 
What  do  ye  here  this  hour  of  the  night  ?     Get  up. 

Begone ! 
The  Workers  arise,  looking  puzzled. 

JONATHAN 

Sister,  Saul  has  bidden  them  work  the  night 
through,  to  prepare  bridal  garments  against 
the  bridal. 

MICHAL 

with  intense  indignation 
My  bridal  garments!     My  bridal!     There  shall 

be  no  bridal.     Get  up!     Begone! 
The  Workers  scatter,  some  up  the  stairs,  1   E  R, 
the  men  by  2  E  R.     MICHAL  sweeps  up  the  stuffs, 
throws  them  aside  against  the  divan,  c,  kicks  them 
together  contemptuously. 

Hateful  garments!     My  bridal  with  Phaltiel! 
She  imitates  PHALTIEL'S  bleating  laugh. 
[102] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

JONATHAN 
It  is  late.     You  are  not  well.     You  should  rest  and 

sleep. 

MICHAL  sits  on  the  divan,  kicking  up  the  stuffs 
constantly  with  her  feet. 
I  cannot  sleep,  I  cannot  sleep.     I  cannot  rest,  for 

thinking  of  David  who  does  not  return. 
She  jumps  up,  tosses  the  stuffs  aside  with  her  foot. 
I  cannot  rest  the  soles  of  my  feet  upon  them. 

They  hurt  me  like  irons.     Oh,  David,  David, 

why  did  you  not  return  ? 

JONATHAN 
David  may  yet  return. 

MICHAL 
He  has  been  slain  among  those  savage  Philistines. 

Ah,  me! 

JONATHAN   puts  an  arm  around   her,   leads  her 
away,  1  E  R. 

JONATHAN 

Rest  a  little,  Michal.     Perhaps  the  morning  will 
bring  better  things. 

MICHAL 
There  is  no  rest  for  me. 

Exit  MICHAL,  1  E  R. 

[103] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

JONATHAN 

I  would  I  could  help  her,  but  there  is  no  help  in 
me.     Phaltiel  will  come  betimes  in  the  morn 
ing  with  the  betrothal  ring.     Saul  is  zealous 
for  the  betrothal.     If  David  returns,  it  will 
be  too  late,  too  late. 
A  tap  at  the  shuttered  window,  c. 
Who  is  that? 

He  goes  to  window,  answers  a  voice,  great  surprise. 
You,  you ! 

Enter,  L  E,  a  servant  to  extinguish  the  lights.  JON 
ATHAN  turns. 

In  a  very  low  voice  to  the  person  outside. 
Hush!    Wait! 
To  the  Servant. 

Leave  that  lamp  and  the  candle  in  that  sconce. 
The  Servant  extinguishes  all    but   the   two    and 
exit,  L. 

Yes,  all  is  well.  No  one  is  about.  Saul?  He 
sleeps.  She  is  in  her  chamber.  Yes,  enter, 
enter  quickly.  Ah! 

As  JONATHAN  pushes  open  the  shutter,  DAVID 
springs  into  the  room.  He  is  wrapped  about  in  a 
traveller  s  cloak  so  that  his  face  is  scarcely  dis 
cernible. 

[104] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID  boyishly 

You  would  not  have  known  me.     Confess ! 
Embracing  him. 

JONATHAN 

To  me  you  are  as  my  own  brother. 
DAVID  returns  to  window  and  reaches  out  after 
something. 
What  have  you  there  ? 

DAVID 

bringing  a  pack  into  the  room 

My  passport,  the  byword.  Stuffs  for  this  "  brid 
al.  "  It  was  the  only  way  the  keepers  of  the 
gates  would  admit  me.  Tell  me,  Jonathan, 
of  this  bridal.  The  tale  is  not  a  true  one  ? 

JONATHAN 

closing  entirely  the  shutters 

Of  that,  later.  Your  tidings?  Your  men?  Is 
the  tale  true  ?  We  have  heard  of  death,  dis 
aster  ? 

DAVID  joyously 

My  men  are  without  the  gates.     Oh,  Jonathan, 

my  brother,  victory  has  been  ours.     I  have 

taken  the  banners  of  twenty  cities.     Michal 

is  mine. 

[105] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

JONATHAN 

David,  my  brother,  I  am  yours  to  the  end,  but 
Michal 

DAVID 

Speak  quickly! 

JONATHAN 
Is  promised  to  another. 

DAVID 

after  a  moment  of  deep  agitation 
By  her  wish  ? 

JONATHAN 
She  has  cried  for  you  day  and  night. 

DAVID 
I  must  see  her. 

JONATHAN 
It  is  late.     In  the  morning 

DAVID 

Now !     In  the  morning  there  will  be  other  matters. 
It  is  for  this  I  have  come. 

JONATHAN 
I  will  call  her. 
He  starts  to  R. 

[106] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

Wait.  Let  us  swear  an  oath  together  that  what 
ever  come  between  us  twain,  our  souls  shall 
be  knit  together. 

JONATHAN 

Ah,  David,  your  voice  pierces  me  with  foretaste 
of  trouble. 

DAVID 

Through  dark  and  despair,  by  fire  and  by  sword, 
shall  I  win  to  mine  own.  But  between  us, 
Jonathan 

JONATHAN 

clasping  DAVID'S  hand 

I  swear ! 

DAVID 

Jehovah  do  so  to  me  and  more  also  if  I  keep  it  not. 
Not  only  while  yet  I  live  will  I  show  you  kind 
ness  but  I  will  not  cut  off  my  kindness  from 
your  house  forever  and  ever. 

After  a  solemn  pause. 

Now  for  Michal.  Tell  her  not  it  is  I,  but — a 
merchant  from  Tyre. 

JONATHAN  at  2  E  R 

She  will  not  come. 

[107] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 
With  a  message  from  David. 

JONATHAN 
She  will  come. 

Exit  JONATHAN,  1  E  R.  DAVID  sees  his  harp  on 
the  wall  and  takes  it  down,  strumming  it  softly. 
He  sings  to  himself,  his  face  upturned  to  the  stair 
way. 

DAVID 

Behold,  thou  art  fair,  my  love, 
Behold,  thou  art  fair. 
As  the  rose  of  Sharon 
Or  the  lily  of  the  valleys, 

Or  the  flower  among  thorns, 
So  is  my  love  among  women. 
Awake  unto  me,  my  sister,  my  love,  my  undefiled, 
It  is  the  voice  of  thy  beloved  that  calleth,  saying : 

Awake  unto  me! 

Thou  hast  ravished  my  heart,  my  sister, 
My  bride,  awake,  awake! 

During  the  song,  MICHAL  has  softly  opened  the 
curtains  at  the  head  of  the  low  flight  of  stairs  and 
comes  softly  down.  She  is  in  rose-colored  draper 
ies,  her  black  hair  falling  in  plaits  and  twisted 
[  108  ] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

with  ribbons.  She  pauses  when  she  sees  DAVID 
and  is  dazed,  rubbing  her  eyes  to  clear  the  films  of 
sleep.  She  advances  down  the  stairs  very  slowly. 
As  the  harp-music  dies  away  she  speaks. 

MICHAL 
I    dream!     Glorious    vision    of    my    head.     O 

dream,  O  spirit! 

DAVID  retreats,  walking  backward,  till  he  has 
reached  the  wall,  L,  and  hung  his  harp.  Then 
with  a  sudden  dramatic  change  of  attitude  and 
gait,  he  approaches  her  briskly,  speaking  in  the 
eager  tone  of  a  seller. 

DAVID 
Lady,  I  am  the  merchant  of  stuffs  from  Tyre.     I 

have 

MICHAL  is  mystified,  thinks  she  has  dreamed. 

MICHAL 
Where  is  that  other  ? 

DAVID 

What  other,  lady  ?     There  is  only  I.     My  servant 

waits  in  the  antechamber. 
He  points  to  L. 

MICHAL 

I  had  a  dream.     It  is  gone.     Your  message  ? 
[109] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 
Princess,  I  have  stuffs 

MICHAL  imperiously 

Now  is  not  the  hour  for  buying  and  selling.  Your 
message. 

DAVID 

Your  patience,  princess,  but  I  must  obey  the  will 
of  him  that  sent  me.  Such  marvellous  excel 
lent  stuffs,  in  color  like  the  rainbow,  in  tex 
ture  like  the  morning  mist 

MICHAL 
Ah,  peace,  peace.     They  interest  me  not. 

DAVID 

Thin  as  spider  webs,  yet  strong  as  the  cords  that 
bound  Samson. 

MICHAL 
Open  them  quickly  that  we  may  have  done  with 

this  talk. 

MICHAL  seats  herself  wearily  on  the  ottoman.  DA 
VID,  to  her  surprise,  seats  himself  at  her  side  on  the 
cushions. 

DAVID 

still  in  the  inspired  tone  of  an  eccentric  merchant 
I  have  sold  to  the  princes  of  Tyre  and  Sidon,  to 

[110] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

Pharaoh's  daughter  and  to    the    Queen    of 

Sheba 

MICHAL 
Enough ! 

She  has  scarcely  looked  at  DAVID.  This  fact,  with 
the  dimness  of  the  light,  his  different  attire,  masked 
voice  and  the  change  in  him  that  months  of  cam 
paign  have  wrought,  keep  her  from  recognizing 
him. 

DAVID 
But  for  you  alone  have  I  kept  one  stuff,  and  sold 

it  to  none  other. 
MICHAL  begins  to  show  interest. 
I  have  myself  woven  it  for  the  young  bride  on  her 

betrothal. 
MICHAL  rises  in  great  anger. 

MICHAL 
Out,  I  will  have  none  of  bride-stuffs  and  betrothal 

veils. 

DAVID  goes  to  his  pack  which  is  below  the  win 
dow,  c. 

DAVID 

It  is  the  wish  of  him  who  sent  me. 
While  DAVID'S  back  is  turned,  MICHAL  takes  the 
cushions  on  which  he  has  been  sitting  and  tosses 

[mi 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

them  into  the  far  corner  of  the  room.     Laughing, 

DAVID   returns. 

Forgive  the  laughter,  but  the  joy  I  am  about  to 

spread  before  your  eyes 

MICHAL  takes  the  candle  from  its  sconce. 

MICHAL  mocking 

We  need  a  brighter  light  to  see  this  stuff,  this 

morning  mist,  this  rainbow  web 

DAVID  ha*  returned  from  the  window  empty-hand 
ed.  He  takes  the  candle  from  her  and  places  it  on 
the  table. 

DAVID 

Your  pardon,  princess,  but  there  needs  no  light — 
Something  in  DAVID'S  tone  and  manner  arrests 
MICHAL'S  attention  and  she  stands  still,  as  if  fas 
cinated. 

for  the  fabric  itself  sheds  radiance  round 
about  it.  It  is  woven  in  heaven  for  the 
young  and  the  pure.  They  that  wear  it 
wisely  may  wear  it  always.  They  will  walk 
as  angels  and  no  harm  may  come  near  them, 
neither  will  they  ever  be  troubled. 

MICHAL  eagerly 

Is  it  to  be  bought  for  gold  ? 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

Gold,  nay,  much  gold,  will  not  buy  it,  for  it  is 
without  price. 

MICHAL 
I  should  like  it  well. 

DAVID 
It  would  become  you  well. 

MICHAL 
By  what  name  do  you  call  it  ? 

DAVID 
Some  do  but  call  it  the  fabric  of  a  dream. 

MICHAL 
Ah,  show  it  me ! 

DAVID  stretches  out  his  arms  as  if  he  were  dis 
playing  folds  of  a  garment  between  them. 

DAVID 

Do  you  not  see  it  ?     Do  you  not  know  it  ? 

MICHAL 

more  and  more  wonderingly 
By  what  token  shall  I  know  it  ? 
DAVID  takes  from  his  bosom  the  withered  white 
rose  of  Act  II. 

[113] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 
By  this! 

MICHAL 
The  rose,  the  white  rose !     My  David. 

DAVID 

taking  her  to  his  breast 

This  is  the  fabric  of  heaven  that  folds  us,  love, 
love,  love. 

MICHAL 
Ah,  David,  but  this  cannot  last.     To-morrow 

DAVID 

What? 

MICHAL 
My  betrothal. 

DAVID 
It  shall  be  with  David. 

MICHAL 

My  father  will  not  suffer  you,  when  you  come  de 
feated,  forlorn. 

DAVID 
And  you  ? 

MICHAL 

Whither  thou  goest  I  will  go 
And  where  thou  lodgest  there  will  I  lodge. 
Come,  let  us  depart  this  night  together. 
[114] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

Nay. 

MICHAL 

You  will  not  fly  with  me  ?     Ah,  but  you  must  not 
be  found  here.     It  will  be  morning  soon. 

DAVID 

I  will  come  for  you  at  daybreak.     Your  father 
shall  give  you  into  my  hands. 

MICHAL 

in  doubt  and  grief,  denying 

My  father — shall  give  me — to  you,  to  you — as 
you  are ! 

DAVID 

As  I  am,  in  these  rags,  he  shall  call  me  son. 
He  goes  to  window,  c. 

MICHAL 
It  must  be  soon,  soon ! 

DAVID 

At  daybreak. 
MICHAL  listens  at  B. 

MICHAL 

Hark,  Saul  is  stirring.     The  servants  are  about. 
You  must  go. 

[  "5  1 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

I  will  go  and  return.     Fear  not. 
Exit  DAVID,  c.     A  servant  enters,  L,  extinguishes 
the  lights.     MICHAL  keeps  him  from  the  window. 

MICHAL 
Does  the  day  promise  fair? 

SERVANT 
There  bodes  a  storm,  princess. 

MICHAL 
But  the  sunset  was  clear. 

SERVANT   going  to  c  window 
The  sun  rises  red.     Look  out,  princess ! 

MICHAL 

leaning  with  her  back  to  the  shutters 
I  do  not  wish  to  look.     It  is  enough. 
Servant  looks  surprised.     Exit  L.     MICHAL  flings 
open  the  shutters  and  looks  out.     She  croons  to 
herself  longingly. 
O  thou  sun,  stand  still  in  the  heavens  till  DAVID, 

my  David  return.     Stand  still,  have  pity  on 

me  till  David,  my  David  return. 
As  she  leans  thus    from  the  lattice,  SAUL    and 
AHINOAM  enter,  2  E  R,  deep  in  conversation. 
[116] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL 

What  is  love  ?     Pff !     A  cobweb  glistering  in  the 
dew.     Pinch  it  between  your  fingers.     Gone. 

AHINOAM 
But  Michal's  heart  will  be  a  fire  shut  up. 

SAUL 
The  fire  will  pass.     I  doubt  not  that  ere  this 

David  has  become  food   for  beasts   of  the 

field. 

MICHAL  flings  herself  from  the  divan  and  stands 
stormily  before  them.     They  had  not  before  seen  her. 

MICHAL 

It  is  a  lie.     He  lives. 
Exit  MICHAL.,  2  E  R. 

SAUL  sternly 

Michal! 
Enter,  L,  servant. 

SERVANT 

My  lord,  Phaltiel  seeks  audience. 

SAUL 

Bring  him  hither. 
Exit,   L,   servant   and    enter   almost   immediately 

[117] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

PHALTIEL.     He  is  richly  dressed,  sleek,  more  re 
pulsive  than  ever. 

SAUL 

Your  petition. 

PHALTIEL 

My  lord,  these  months  have  I  waited  and  now  I 
beg  you,  delay  no  longer.  Give  me  this 
day  Michal  for  my  betrothed. 

SAUL  to  the  servant 

Request  the  princess  Michal  to  come  hither. 
Exit  servant,  2  E  R. 

PHALTIEL 

Behold,  how  my  bones  are  wasted  with  the  travail 
of  my  desire ! 

SAUL 

not  heeding  PHALTIEL,  to  AHINOAM 
She  is  stubborn-hearted  and  delays  to  come.     I 
will  subdue  her  to  my  will. 

AHINOAM 

Deal  gently  with  the  damsel. 
Enter,  R,  MICHAL.     At  sight  of  PHALTIEL  she 
stands. 

[118] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL 

Hither.     What  do  you  fear? 
To  PHALTIEL,  grimly. 
Take  her  by  the  hand.     Lead  your  lady. 
MIC  HAL  puts  her  hands  behind  her  and  advances. 

MICHAL 
I  will  come  alone. 

SAUL 

You    are    chastened    in    mien.      Has    the    night 
taught  you  understanding  ? 

MICHAL 
Yes,  father. 

SAUL 

And  good  cheer? 

MICHAL 
Yes,  father. 

SAUL 

How  honey-sweet  her  lips.     Art  ready  for  the  be 
trothal  ? 

MICHAL 
Yes,  father. 

SAUL  much  pleased 

Give  your  hand  to  Phaltiel's  charge  and  he  will 
put  on  the  betrothal  ring. 
[119] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

PHALTIEL   flourishes  the  ring  from   his   bosom. 
MICHAL  withdraws. 

MICHAL 

But  not  with  him.     I  am  in  truth  ready  for  the 
betrothal,  but  not  with  him. 

SAUL 
With  whom,  prithee? 

MICHAL 
With   David. 
SAUL  laughs  long  and  bitterly. 

SAUL 
Where  is  he,  then,  this  David  of  yours  ? 

MICHAL 
He  will  come. 

SAUL 
Will  come,  will  come !     It  is  a  tale  grown  old. 

MICHAL 
He  will  come  at  sunrise. 

AHINOAM 
Do  you  know,  daughter  ? 

[120] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

MICHAL 
I  know. 
PHALTIEL  goes  to  window. 

PHALTIEL 
My  lord,  the  sun  is  red  above  the  horizon.    I  can 

no  longer  wait. 
MICHAL  seizes  a  sand-glass  from  the  table. 

MICHAL 

Till  the  sands  fall  through,  till  the  sands  fall 
through. 

AHINOAM 
Grant  the  child  her  wish. 

SAUL 
So  be  it. 

PHALTIEL 
Oh,  my  lord  king 

SAUL 

I  have  said. 

MICHAL  stands,  c,  watching  the  hour-glass  in  her 
hands.     All  watch  her. 

PHALTIEL 

Whence  comes  this  lover  ?     From  the  heaven  ? 
[121] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 

Yes,  heaven  will  send  him. 
Pause. 

PHALTIEL 
The  sands  are  nigh  spent. 

MICHAL 

Mother,  I  beg  you,  watch  at  the  lattice. 
AHINOAM  goes  to  the  window  to  watch.     Pause. 

PHALTIEL 
The  sands  are  through. 

MICHAL 
Nay,  nay. 

SAUL 

The  glass  is  empty. 

MICHAL,  in  wild  despair,  dashes  the  hour-glass 
upon  the  floor.  PHALTIEL  takes  her  hands.  AHIN 
OAM  and  SAUL  stand  beside  them.  JONATHAN 
rushes  in,  L. 

JONATHAN 
He  comes,  he  comes. 

PHALTIEL 
Too  late. 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

MICHAL 
'Tis  not  too  late. 

DAVID,  all  breathless •,  still  in  his  rags  and  tatter  sy 
rushes  in,  L. 

DAVID 

I,  David !     I  come  to  claim  the  bride. 
PHALTIEL  rises  to  the  supreme  moment  of  his  life. 

PHALTIEL 
My  bride. 

DAVID,  on  his  way  to  MICHAL,  thrusts  PHALTIEL 
aside  so  violently  that  he  staggers  against  the  wall. 

DAVID 

Mine. 

SAUL  sternly  steps  between  him  and  MICHAL. 

SAUL 

Insolent,  who  are  you  to  step  between  the  king 
and  the  man  the  king  has  chosen  ? 

DAVID 
Your  promise,  O  king. 

SAUL 

My  promise ! 

DAVID 

Need  I  remind  Saul  of  his  promise,  first  before 
the  field  of  Ephes-Dammim,  where  I  slew  the 

[123] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

giant  Goliath,  and  second  on  that  night  when 
I  went  forth  from  the — house  of  sorcery  to 
take  the  Philistine  towns  ? 

SAUL 

Where  are  those  Philistine  towns  you  boasted  to 
lay  low  ? 

DAVID 

In  the  dust,  my  lord. 

PHALTIEL  is  creeping  as  far  as  possible  from  DA 
VID  to  L. 

SAUL 
You  come  alone  in  rags  with  this  pirate's  story. 

DAVID 
Alone,  in  rags,  but  the  cities  are  laid  low. 

AHINOAM  to   SAUL 

My  lord,  let  him  offer  proof. 

DAVID 

The  word  of  David. 

SAUL  to  JONATHAN 

Summon  the  guard. 
Exeunt,  L,  JONATHAN  and  PHALTIEL. 

MICHAL 

Believe  him,  my  father. 

[124] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL  tauntingly 

A  brave  bridegroom,  forsooth,  in  your  purple  and 
fine  linen.  Only  one  thing  lacks,  the  chain 
of  fine  gold,  about  his  neck,  for  a  bridegroom 
meet. 

Enter,  L,  the  armed  guard,  two  men  and  JONATHAN. 

To  the  men. 

Take  him  and  bind  him. 

DAVID 

My  friends,  I  ask  ye  all  to  witness  how  Saul  has 
forsworn  his  oath.  I  am  come  victor,  and 
this  is  my  reward,  a  prison  and  a  chain. 

SAUL 

Take  him  and  chain  him.     He  is  mad. 
As  the  men  approach,  DAVID  turns  fiercely  and  has 
almost  overthrown  them. 

SAUL  to  DAVID 

David,  you  that  I  brought  from  the  sheepcotes,  I 
your  king,  command. 
DAVID  gives  over  his  resistance  and  folds  his  arms, 

DAVID 
I  obey  my  king. 

[  125  ] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

SAUL 

Lay  down  your  weapon. 

DAVID  lays  his  sword  on  the  floor.     It  so  hap 
pens  that  it  lies  between  him  and  MICHAL. 

MICHAL 

Ah,  David,  that  drawn  sword  lies  between  you  and 
me. 

SAUL  to  the  men 

Take  him  and  bind  him. 

The   soldiers,  wholly  on  DAVID'S  side,  sullenly 
hesitate  to  obey. 
Laggards,  do  your  work.     Ye  refuse  ? 

MICHAL 
Father,  behold  how  David,  whom  you  hate,  is 

more  loyal  than  they. 

A  steady  tramp,  tramp,  of  approaching  men  is 
heard  from  this  time  till  DAVID'S  followers  appear. 

DAVID 

Nay,  princess  Michal,  they,  too,  are  loyal  to  their 
king. 

SAUL  angry 

What? 

[126] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

They  appeal  from  Saul  the  tyrant  to  Saul  the  king. 
Cries  outside  the  window. 

PEOPLE 
David,  David! 

AHINOAM  to  SAUL 

My  lord,  do  you  hear  the  people  ? 

PEOPLE 

Open  to  us,  David,  David ! 

The  cries  continue  from  this  point  till  the  doors  are 
open. 

SAUL 
What  is  this  ? 

JONATHAN 

They  are  the  followers  of  David,  acclaiming  the 
victory. 

AHINOAM 

They  will  break  down  the  walls  if  they  see  not 
David. 

SAUL 

Open  to  them. 

The  soldiers  open  the  door  L  and  the  window  c. 
The  people  crowd  in.  ELIAB  is  spokesman  for  the 
people. 

[127] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ELIAB 
Where  is  David  that  I  may  give  these  banners  to 

his  hand? 

DAVID  and  ELIAB  meet  and  DAVID  receives  a  sheaf 
of  tattered  banners. 

DAVID 

My  lord,  I  went  out,  as  you  bade  me,  for  the  re 
ward  of  Michal's  hand,  as  I  desired,  and  I 
smote  the  twenty  cities,  I  and  these  my  brave 
followers  and  we  laid  them  low. 

PEOPLE 
Huzza. 
DAVID  lays  a  banner  at  SAUL'S  feet. 

DAVID 

The  banner  of  Ashdod. 

PEOPLE 
Huzza. 

DAVID 

with  a  second  banner 
The  banner  of  Ekron. 

PEOPLE 
Huzza. 

DAVID 
The  banner  of  Gaza. 

[128] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

PEOPLE 
Huzza. 
DAVID  lays  the  sheaf  of  banners  at  SAUL'S  feet. 

DAVID 

And  the  banners  of  all  these  cities  laid  at  your  feet, 
O  my  king. 

PEOPLE 
Huzza. 

DAVID 
I  ask  my  reward. 

PEOPLE 
The  reward,  the  reward. 

ELIAB 

Robe  him  and  crown  him,  O  Saul ! 

PEOPLE 
The  robe,  the  chain! 

SAUL 
Oh  David,  oh  ye  people 

PEOPLE 

interrupting  in  their  enthusiasm 
The  robe,  the  crown ! 

AHINOAM 
The  people  demand  it. 

[129] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 

leading  DAVID  to  SAUL 
My  father! 

ELIAB 
David  and  Michal! 

SAUL  to  JONATHAN 

Put  upon  him  your  mantle  and  your  robe. 
JONATHAN  clothes  DAVID  in  his  scarlet  robe.     The 
people  applaud. 

MICHAL 

I  will  put  upon  his  neck  the  chain  of  gold. 
She  takes  from  her  neck  the  golden  chain  she  wears. 
DAVID  kneels  before  her  and  she  puts  the  chain 
upon  him. 

PEOPLE 

David  and  Michal.  The  bridegroom  and  the 
bride. 

MICHAL 

He  is  the  prince  beloved,  for  he  is  your  son,  is  he 
not,  father? 

SAUL 

My  people,  he  is  in  truth  the  prince  beloved,  a 
captain  over  my  peoples.  Leave  us  to 
gether. 

[130] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

He  motions  to  the  people  to  go  out.     All  exeunt,  L 
and  c,  except  DAVID  and  MICHAL.    DAVID  kneels 
before  SAUL. 
Kneel  not  to  me.     I  am  he  that  should  kneel  to 

ask  your  forgiveness,  my  son  David. 
DAVID  rises. 
And  now  your  harp,  your  voice  in  song,  a  sign  of 

peace. 
MICHAL  brings  the  harp  to  DAVID. 

MICHAL 

Too  long  it  has  been  silent. 
DAVID  sits  on  ottoman,  L  c. 

DAVID 

What  song  shall  I  sing,  O  Saul  ? 
MICHAL  stands  by  him. 

SAUL 

A  song  of  peace,  for  I  am  weary  of  war. 
To  MICHAL. 

Come  to  your  father,  my  child. 
MICHAL  goes  to  her  father,  sits  on  a  cushion  by  his 
knee,  his  hand  on  her  head. 

DAVID 

What  song,  beloved  ? 

[131] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 

Of  your  childhood  days  in  those  dear  hills. 
DAVID,  strumming  lightly  on  his  harp,  sings. 

DAVID 

singing  the  song  of  Act  I 
The  Lord  my  shepherd  is, 

I  shall  not  want. 
In  the  green  pastures  shall  I  lie, 

He  leads  me  by  still  waters. 

A  triumphal  song  is  heard,  faint  in  the  distance, 
but  approaching  the  palace. 

The  Lord  my  soul  restores, 

He  leadeth  me 
In  paths  of  righteousness  for  His  name's  sake. 

For  His  name's  sake. 

SAUL 

How  sweet  your  voice  to  me,  my  son  David ! 

The  triumphal  procession  comes  nearer  and  the 

words  of  the  women  are  audible. 

WOMEN 
O  clap  your  hands,  all  ye  daughters, 

Shout  and  greatly  rejoice 

[132] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

SAUL  listens  to  their  voices,  disturbed.  MICHAL 
leans  forward  to  DAVID,  anxious. 

MICHAL 
Play  on,  sweet  singer. 

SAUL  muttering 

In  praise  of  David. 

DAVID  singing 

Yea,  though  I  walk  in  night, 

Through  death's  dark  valley 

The  procession  comes  in  sight.  Women  robed  in 
white,  carrying  torches,  fie  slowly  past  the 
window. 

WOMEN 
O  clap  your  hands,  all  ye  daughters, 

Shout  and  greatly  rejoice. 
Saul,  Saul  his  thousands  hath  he  slain, 
But  David  his  ten  thousands. 

SAUL'S  face  darkens.  His  hand  steals  to  the  hilt  of 
his  javelin. 

SAUL 

David,    David!     Even    the    women    chant    his 
praise. 

MICHAL 
Sing  on,  sing  on ! 

[133] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 
Yea,  though  I  walk  in  night, 

Through  death's  dark  valley. 

WOMEN 

in  a  sudden  burst  of  song 
Saul,  Saul  his  thousands  hath  he  slain, 
But  David  his  ten  thousands. 

DAVID  singing 

No  evil  will  I  fear 

SAUL 

Curse  you,  curse  you,  curse  you.     Traitor! 
With  his  words,  he  hurls  his  javelin  across  the 
room  at  DAVID.     MICHAL,  with  a  cry,  flings  her 
weight  on  his  arm,  causing  the  javelin  to  swerve. 
It  strikes  the  wall  behind  DAVID. 

MICHAL 
Flee,  flee  for  your  life.     The  madness  is  on  him. 

DAVID 

arisen  to  his  feet,  in  an  attitude  of  horror 
Saul,  my  king. 

CURTAIN 

END  OF  ACT  III 
[134] 


ACT  IV 

SCENE  I :  THE  TABERNACLE  :  The  gorgeous  pag 
eantry  of  the  Tabernacle  arrayed  for  the  bridal  of 
MICHAL  at  the  Feast  of  Trumpets.  Hangings  of 
purple,  blue,  and  gold.  The  altar  with  the  golden 
candlesticks  and  cherubim.  Priests  and  Levites  in 
their  rich  robes  grouped  around  the  altar.  Two 
exits,  the  great  central  door  and  smaller  door,  L. 
Enter,  c,  two  priests,  blowing  on  silver  trumpets. 
They  are  followed  by  musicians,  with  tabret,  harp, 
and  psaltery.  After  their  evolutions,  comes  a  pro 
cession  of  maidens  with  cymbals,  dancing  a  slow 
religious  dance.  These  are  arrayed  on  L,  in  front 
of  the  musicians.  Opposite  are  the  priests  and 
Levites.  Then,  to  the  sound  of  music  from  the 
trumpeters,  come  the  courtiers  led  by  MEBAB  and 
ADRIEL.  These  take  their  places,  R  c. 
Enter  alone,  c,  PHALTIEL,  in  bridal  splendor.  A 
low  hiss  runs  through  the  group  of  young  men  and 
maidens.  PHALTIEL  glances  sullenly. 
[135] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

All  look  expectantly  to  c,  whence  comes  the  sound  of 
low  ivailing,  MICHAL'S  voice.  Enter  JONATHAN 
and  QUEEN  AHINOAM,  followed  after  a  moment 
by  SAUL,  leading  MICHAL.  MICHAL  is  in  white, 
her  long  hair  in  braids  bound  with  gold,  and  a 
gold  girdle  round  her  waist.  She  is  ashen  pale 
and  is  dragged  rather  than  led.  They  slowly  ad 
vance  to  the  altar.  When  she  lifts  her  head  and 
sees  the  array  of  priests  and  PHALTIEL  waiting 
for  her  by  the  altar,  she  moans. 

MICHAL 
Ah,  no,  no! 

SAUL  to  the  musicians 

Strike  up. 

The  musicians  play. 

Phaltiel,  stand  forward. 

As  PHALTIEL  advances  MICHAL  retreats. 

Oh  all  ye  peoples,  tribes  of  Israel,  my  children 
hereunto  assembled,  these  are  the  nuptials  of 
the  princess  Michal  with  Phaltiel,  prince  of 
Laish.  Where  is  the  high  priest  of  the  tribe 
of  Benjamin?  Let  him  join  their  hands 
and  put  on  the  solemn  ring  of  the  covenant. 

A  pause,  but  no  high  priest  steps  forth. 
[  136  ] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

JONATHAN 
My  lord  king,  the  high  priest  was  stricken  down 

as  he  set  forth  for  the  tabernacle. 
A  groan  from  all. 

SAUL 

What  boots  it? 

To  a  priest. 

Ashur,  take  your  place  in  his  stead. 

ASHUR,  in  his  stately  robes,  steps  to  c  from  the  body 

of  priests.     He  is  reluctant.     The  music  sounds 

again    as    ASHUR    leads    together    MICHAL    and 

PHALTIEL.     ASHUR  takes  from  PHALTIEL  the  ring 

and  holds  it  on  high. 

Behold  the  solemn  ring  of  the  covenant !     Is  there 

any  man  to  deny  this  covenant  ? 
A  commotion  at  the  door,  c.  The  people  shudder 
away  as,  on  horseback  at  full  gallop,  enters  DAVID, 
his  spear  flashing  from  R  to  L.  ELIAB  and  ABINA- 
DAB  follow  and  stand  guard  on  each  side  of  the 
great  central  door. 

DAVID 
I  deny!     I  deny!     I  deny  the  righteousness  of 

the  covenant. 

He  reaches  the  spot  where  the  royal  group  stand, 
leans  from  the  saddle,  smites  down  ASHUR. 
[  137  ] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

Thus  have  I  cut  in  two  both  ring  and  priest  and — 

lifting  MICHAL  to  the  saddle  beside  him,  amid  the 

frozen  stares  of  the  congregation. 

Thus  does  the  master  take  his  own ! 

Sharply  wheeling,  he  gallops  up-stage  to  door. 

SAUL  choking  in  wrath 

Traitor  and  outlaw !     Has  no  man  a  weapon  ? 

DAVID  at  door 

The  weapon  is  mine.     By  sword  and  by  fire  have 

I  sworn  to  have  and  to  hold  mine  own. 
SAMUEL,  a  venerable  figure,  appears  suddenly  at  L 
and  holds  up  his  hand. 

SAMUEL 
David,  halt.     By  sword  and  by  fire,  but  not  in 

the  name  of  the  Most  High.     In  the  name  of 

the  Most  High,  I  command  thee  lay  down 

thy  burden. 

A  pause.     DAVID  stands  reluctant,  his  eyes  fixed 
on  SAMUEL. 
Forbear  to  desecrate  His  holy  Temple.     In  the 

name  of  thine  own  high  calling,  forbear ! 

DAVID  gives  over  MICHAL  to  his  two  men-at-arms 

by  the  door.     Her  insensate  form  shows  that  she  is 

unconscious.     They  carry  her  within,  where  two 

[138] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

maidens    tend    her.     DAVID    alights    and    stands 

with  bared  head  and  weapon  lowered. 

Get  thee  hence  to  the  wilderness  away  from  the 

wrath  of  Saul,  to  do  penance  and  to  wash 

away  thy  sin. 

DAVID         smiting  his  breast 

In  the  name  of  mine  own  anointing  I  do  obey, 
that  Jehovah  who  is  the  respecter  of  oaths 
may  also  respect  the  oath  that  lies  'twixt  me 
and  her. 
He  points  to  MICHAL. 

CURTAIN 

END  OF  SCENE  I 


[139] 


ACT   IV 

SCENE  II:  THE  CAVE  OF  ADULLAM:  A  wild  and 
rugged  country,  with  a  gray,  tossing  sky.  Cliffs 
and  rocks  piled  up  as  far  as  the  eye  can  see.  B  is 
the  entrance  to  the  cave.  Other  exits,  L  and  c,  be 
hind  jags  of  rocks  and  boulders.  Stones  in  front 
used  as  seats. 

Discovered  are  DAVID  and  a  wild  group  of  his  fol 
lowers,  ten  or  twelve.  Among  them  the  three 
mighties,  his  brothers,  ELIAB,  ABINADAB,  and 
SHAMMAH,  and  AMASA  and  ASAHEL,  archers,  with 
their  bows  and  arrows. 
The  curtain  goes  up  on  a  great  clamor. 

ALL 
Down  with  Saul. 

ELIAB 
Death  to  the  madman. 

DAVID 

Silence. 

[140] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

SHAMMAH 
Down  with  the  mad  king. 

DAVID 
Silence. 

More  angry  cries. 
Silence.     Obey  your  leader ! 
They  are  silent. 
I  say  unto  you,  honor  the  king. 

ELIAB 

David,  the  prophecy  has  gone  out  that  you  are  to 
be  king  of  Israel  and  to  this  end  Samuel 
anointed  you. 

DAVID 

Because  of  this  prophecy,  shall  we  take  up  arms 
against  the  king?  Even  because  of  the 
prophecy,  a  thousand  times  no! 

ALL 

A  cause,  a  cause! 

DAVID 

There  shall  be  a  cause  for  you.  Are  there  out 
laws  among  you,  driven  forth  from  house 
and  home? 

CRIES 
Yes,  yes. 

[141] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

Outlaw  am  I.  Debtors  are  there,  your  faces 
ground  by  the  pitiless  tax-gatherer  ? 

CRIES 

Yes,  yes. 

DAVID 
Debtor  am  I.     Malcontents  are  there,  your  hope 

as  a  spider's  web?     Haggards  of  the  rock, 

criers  for  justice  ? 

CRIES 

Yes,   yes. 

DAVID 

All  that  and  more  am  I.  Yet  with  a  great  hope 
possessed  that  out  of  confusion  will  peace 
arise,  from  the  wine  of  violence  and  the 
bread  of  tears,  peace  that  floweth  like  a  river. 
Let  us  then  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder,  you 
for  me,  I  for  you ! 

ALL 
For  David,  for  David. 

DAVID 

Robbers  and  oppressors  we  shall  not  be.  What 
shall  bind  us  together,  love  or  hate,  hate  or 
love? 

[142] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

ELIAB 
I^overs  of  David,  lovers  of  David! 

DAVID 

To  your  stations,  as  I  have  appointed.  Remem 
ber  the  password  if  any  seeks  admittance. 
"  What  come  you  for  to  seek  ?  "  "  The  Lion 
of  Judah." 

ALL  as  they  go  out 

The  lion  of  Judah. 

The  three  mighties  and  DAVID  remain. 

ELIAB 

Who  knows  the  watchword  outside  of  our  cave  ? 

DAVID 

Only  they  that  are  my  friends. 

ABINADAB 

And  they  are  easily  numbered.  Not  of  the  palace, 
I  will  swear. 

DAVID 

One  there  is  in  the  palace  my  friend.  That  one 
knows  the  password.  None  other. 

SHAMMAH 
Trust  none,  I  say. 

Cries  of  the  men  outside  among  the  cliffs  are  heard. 
[143] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

CRIES 
What  come  you  for  to  seek  ? 

VOICE 
The  Lion  of  Judah. 

CRIES 

Let  him  pass. 

All  look  questioningly  to  the  cliffs,  c.     Enter  Mi- 
CHAL,  disguised  as  a  shepherd. 

DAVID          stepping  forward 
If  ye  be  come  peaceably  unto  me  to  help  me,  my 

heart  shall  be  knit  unto  you,  but  if  ye  come  to 

betray  me — 
At  this  word  MICHAL  starts. 

to  mine  enemies,  the  God  of  our  fathers  look 

thereon  and  rebuke  it. 

MICHAL 

Yours  am  I,  David,  and  on  your  side. 
At  the  sound  of  her  voice  DAVID  looks  at  her  closely 
and  moves  a  step  nearer. 

ABINADAB  laughingly 

A  grasshopper  in  sandals,  forsooth ! 

SHAMMAH 

What  seek  you    refuge  from,  the  assault  of  a 
mighty  blue-fly? 

[144] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE    TWO 

DAVID 

Depart  to  your  stations.  When  I  have  need  of 
you  I  will  blow  one  blast  upon  my  bugle. 

ELIAB 

We  shall  obey  your  call. 
Exeunt,  c,  the  three  mighties. 

DAVID  passionately 

Michal,  Michal,  why  have  you  come  ?  Has  Saul 
relented  ? 

MICHAL 

No,  no. 

DAVID 

Child,  child,  did  you  not  fear?  These  savage 
cliffs,  these  outlawed  men! 

MICHAL 
I  had  the  password. 

DAVID 

What  brings  you  ?  At  your  peril  have  you  come, 
like  a  bird  that  hastes  to  the  snare  and  knows 
it  not. 

MICHAL 
I  came  to  you. 

[  145  ] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID  enfolding  her 

Nest  thee,  then,  my  bird.     Ah,  but  thy  lips  are 
sweeter  than  wine. 

MICHAL  withdraws  from  DAVID  and  looks  up  into 
his  face  with  a  deep  question. 

MICHAL 

David,  have  I  not  proved  my  love,  that  I  would 
leave  all  and  follow  you  ? 

DAVID 

I  ask  no  proof.     I  believe  you  always,  as  you  me. 

MICHAL  shakes  her  head  slowly. 

Doubt  not  the  future.  It  is  in  His  hands.  Soon 
you  must  go,  I  know  too  well.  Let  us  dream, 
dream,  here  at  the  parting  of  the  ways. 

MICHAL  springs  from  him  in  indignation. 

MICHAL 

David,  I  have  risked  all  for  you,  and  you  ?  You 
count  me  least  of  your  ambitions. 

DAVID  in  wonder 

Have  I  not — have  I  not ? 

MICHAL 

Talk  not  of  battles  and  violence  with  sword.    That 
is  man's  pastime.     Many  men,  for  love  of  a 
[146] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

woman,  have  overcome  cities.    There  is  some 
thing  between  your  heart  and  mine,  David. 

DAVID 

Between  us  twain,  Michal  ? 

MICHAL 
A  king's  crown. 

DAVID 
Would  to  God,  Michal,  I  were  a  shepherd  lad 

again. 

He  presses  his  head  as  if  there  were  a  weight  upon 
it. 
The  crown,  the  crown,  is  upon  my  forehead  a 

crown  of  thorns. 

He  paces  to  and  fro,  heedless  of  MICHAL. 
The  burden  is  greater  than  I  can  bear.     Take  the 

burden  of  this  crown  from  me,  O  my  God. 

MICHAL 

Cast  it  under  foot  and  grind  it  to  fragments. 
A  pause.     DAVID  turns  to  her. 

DAVID 

Speak  again. 

MICHAL 

I  bring  this  message  from  Saul  my  father.     Re 
nounce  your  hope  of  the  kingdom,  he  will  re- 
[147] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ceive  you  as  his  son,  and — David — I  shall  be 
yours. 
DAVID  opens  his  arms  to  her. 

DAVID 

I  swear  it.     Ah,  nay,  nay !    It  is  denied  me  by  the 

oath  of  mine  anointing. 
He  goes  with  bowed  head  from  her. 

MICHAL  following  him 

Is  your  love  then  so  little  ? 

DAVID  to  himself 

Verily,  my  feet  are  too  weak  to  tread  this  path. 
As  a  blind  man  I  stagger  and  fall. 

MICHAL 
This  is  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  your  love. 

DAVID 

Who  has  determined  this  to  be  the  measure  ?  Who 
has  poisoned  your  mind  against  me  ? 

MICHAL 
My  father  has — counselled  me. 

DAVID 

Listen,  Michal.     There  is  a  law  mightier  even 
than  this  law  of  love.     By  this  law  in  the  be- 
[148] 


ACT    FOUR:    SCENE    TWO 

ginning  of  things  were  our  lives  ordained,  all 
our  times  appointed.  Not  often  is  it  vouch 
safed  to  any  man  to  see  what  the  future  has  in 
store.  That  which  is  to  be  is  not  of  my  do 
ing  nor  of  Saul's  nor  any  man's  undoing.  It 
is  the  law  of  God,  who  setteth  the  stars  in 
their  places  and  the  ocean  that  he  overstep 
not  his  barrier.  Do  you  understand  ? 

MICHAL  awed 

I  understand. 

DAVID 

But  believe  not  that  glory  maketh  any  man  to  re 
joice.  Even  of  the  dust  have  I  eaten,  for  be 
tween  thee  and  me  does  this  crown  come. 

MICHAL  kneeling 

Forgive  me,  my  lover. 

DAVID 
I  have  naught  to  forgive. 

MICHAL 

There  is  something  you  do  not  know.  I  came 
here — my  father  was  aware — he  will  fol 
low — Ah,  David,  I  was  so  sure  you  would 
renounce  the  ambition — I  did  not  under 
stand  ! 

[149] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

What  is  your  meaning  ? 

MICHAL  A.;v 

My  father  wrought  so  upon  me.     Ah,  my  lord ! 

DAVID 

What  have  you  done  ? 

MICHAL 

I  have  betrayed  you,  you  will  say.     But  not  will 
ingly. 

The  clashing  of  arms  and  cries  of  fighters  are 
heard.  The  noise  waxes  louder  throughout  the 
next  few  speeches. 

DAVID 

You  have  betrayed  me !  Ah,  my  brave  followers ! 
He  makes  as  if  to  join  them  outside,  running  to  L, 
but  MICHAL  clings  to  him. 

MICHAL 

Leave  me  not  alone,  leave  me  not! 
DAVID  takes  her  to  the  cave  opening,  R. 

DAVID 

Hide  there.     It  will  be  safe. 
[150] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

MICHAL 

No,  I  shall  stay  in  the  open  and  with  you. 
A  scattered  remnant  of  DAVID'S  followers,  bravely 
keeping  the  cliffs,  are  pushed  backward  by  their 
assaulters  and  so  enter,  c  and  L,  backward,  still 
fighting.  SAUL'S  men  follow,  their  panoply  of 
armor  in  contrast  with  the  tatters  of  DAVID'S  men. 
A  sharp  struggle,  then  all  fall  in  death  except 
two  of  SAUL'S  followers  and  one  of  DAVID'S,  the 
youth  ASAHEL.  ASAHEL  rushes  to  DAVID,  his 
bow  in  his  hand,  his  sheaf  of  arrows  at  his  belt,  the 
two  in  pursuit. 

ASAHEL 

I  am  struck  to  the  heart. 

He  falls  dead.  DAVID  seizes  ASAHEL'S  bow  and 
arrows  and  shoots  at  the  pursuers.  They  fall  and 
SAUL  enters,  c,  towering  in  his  rage,  his  spear  in 
his  hand. 

SAUL 

Vengeance  is  mine,  at  last,  at  last. 
DAVID  steps  forward  fearlessly. 

DAVID 

My  lord  king. 

SAUL          poising  his  spear 
Trouble  not  yourpelf  with  lord,  lord. 

[151] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID          baring  his  breast 
Death  shall  be  welcome,  for  Michal  has  become 

my  betrayer. 
MICHAL  throws  herself  on  her  father's  breast. 

MICHAL 
Not  him,  father,  not  him. 

SAUL 
You  have  played  your  part.     Stand  back. 

MICHAL 
Spare  him,  father,  for  my  sake. 

SAUL 
I  will  not  deal  with  him  as  his  deeds  deserve.     I 

will  summon  my  men  and  they  shall  take  him 

captive. 

SAUL  blows  two  blasts  on  his  bugle.  A  pause. 
There  is  no  response.  He  blows  again.  Again  a 
pause. 

DAVID 
Oh  my  lord  king,  the  dead  do  not  waken,  neither 

are  the  slain  swift  of  foot. 

SAUL 
Slain  for  me! 

DAVID  blows  once.     A  long  pause. 
Nay,  the  dead  do  not  waken! 
[152] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID  blows  again.     Enter  running,  blood-stained 
and  torn,  the  two  mighties,  ELIAB  and  SHAMMAH. 

ELIAB 
My  lord  David! 

DAVID 
Where  are  your  brethren? 

ELIAB 

Out  of  your  body-guard,  the  ten  that  guarded 
the  cliffs,  we  only  remain.  The  king's  men 
have  fallen,  every  one. 

DAVID  bows  his  head.     SAUL  throws  his  spear  on 
the  ground. 

SAUL 
Rejoice  over  me,  for  I  am  in  your  hands. 

DAVID 

Far  be  it  from  me  to  rejoice  over  these  that  have 
fallen  in  my  name.  Lo,  they  have  fought  in 
jeopardy  of  their  lives. 

SAUL 
Hasten  to  raise  your  weapon  against  me. 

DAVID 

I  shall  not  put  forth  my  hand  against  the  Lord's 
anointed.      After  whom  is  the  King  of  Is- 
[153] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

rael  come  out  ?     My  heart  is  unto  you  as  it 
was  of  old. 

MICHAL 

Beseech  him,  father,  that  the  past  may  be  for 
gotten  and  that  we  may  be  at  peace  together. 

SAUL 

Give  me  here  your  solemn  covenant  to  forswear 
the  vain  hope  of  the  kingship,  and  lo,  you 
shall  have  Michal  to  wife  and  peace  and 
plenty  all  your  days.  But  the  crown  to  me 
and  my  house  forever. 

MICHAL 
Swear  to  this  covenant,  David,  for  my  sake. 

SAUL 

Why  are  you  reluctant,  my  son  David  ? 

DAVID 

You  ask  me  to  forswear  the  word  of  the  Most 
High. 

MICHAL 

As  you  love  me,  David.  A  king's  crown  or  your 
heart's  desire. 

r. 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 

Other  Hands  than  mine  have  placed  the  crown 
before  me  and  other  Hands  must  take  it  from 
my  head. 

MICHAL 

Father,  plead  with  him,  beseech  him,  for  a 
crown  is  but  a  little  thing  compared  to  the 
love  of  a  life. 

DAVID 

Nay,  Michal,  but  man  is  not  stronger  than  God 
to  contend  with  Him.  Oh  my  lord  king,  I 
must  await  the  word  of  the  anointing.  To 
forswear  the  word  I  am  unable. 

SAUL  in  a  rage 

I  will  smite  you,  hip  and  thigh.  You  and  your 
followers  I  will  put  to  the  edge  of  the 
sword.  You  shall  be  harried  and  laid  waste 
and  forgotten  utterly.  Michal,  swear  unto 
me  never  again  to  look  upon  the  face  of  this 
traitor  David.  Swear! 
He  forces  her  to  her  knees  before  him. 

MICHAX, 
I  swear. 

SAUL  raises  her  to  her  feet  and  they  go  off  to  c. 
[155] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

I  charge  you,  O  Michal,  to  remember  my  love. 
Many  waters  will  not  quench  love  neither 
will  the  floods  drown  it.  Nay,  if  a  man 
would  give  all  the  substance  of  his  house  for 
love  it  would  utterly  be  contemned. 

To  ELIAB  and  SHAMMAH. 

See  that  the  king  and  the  king's  daughter  go  safe 
ly  forth. 

ELIAB 
We  obey. 

DAVID 

Sound  me  salute  from  the  various  stations  that  I 
may  know  they  have  safely  passed. 

To  SAUL  and  MICHAL. 

Peace  be  with  you. 

Exeunt,   c,    SAUL,    MICHAL,   and   the    mighties. 

DAVID  stands  in  a  listening  attitude.    Three  salutes 

sound,   more  and  more  distant.      DAVID'S  head 

droops  upon  his  breast.     He  sees  the  fallen  figure 

of  As  AH  EL  and  lifts  the  still  hand. 

In  vain  shall  your  mother  await  you  at  her  win 
dow — she   shall    cry   at   her   lattice — When 
cometh  he,  my  son,  my  first-born  ? 
[156] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

He  raises  his  arms  to  an  attitude  of  prayer. 
Acquaintance  and  friend  puttest  Thou  from  me, 
My  beloved  removest  Thou  far  from  my  sight. 

CURTAIN 
SECOND  CURTAIN 

TABLEAU — Night,  the  sky  strewn  with  faint  stars 
and  a  camp-fire  lighting  weirdly  the  foreground  of 
boulders  where  DAVID'S  followers  lie  asleep.  In 
the  far  distance,  other  fires,  beacon-lights  on  the 
hills.  DAVID  still  standing  in  the  attitude  of  sor 
row,  arms  upraised  to  heaven. 

END    OF   ACT    IV 


[157] 


ACT  V 

SCENE  I:  AN  OPEN  SQUARE  IN  THE  CITY  OF 
GATH  :  Evening.  A  paved  city  square  with  ex 
terior  of  low  stone  buildings  on  R  and  L.  Seen  in 
the  distance  a  broad  plain  and  the  blue  Mediter 
ranean,  flecked  with  foam.  Small  grated  windows 
in  the  houses  are  lighted,  giving  sign  of  watchers 
within.  The  back  of  the  stage  is  the  city  wall 
flanked  on  the  R  by  a  watch-tower.  Steps  lead 
from  the  square  to  the  top  of  the  wall.  1  E  L,  leads 
to  the  outer  country.  %  E  L,  a  door  in  the  house  of 
Achish,  king  of  Gath.  R  E  leads  to  other  parts 
of  the  city  and  wall.  On  the  R  is  a  merchant's 
deserted  booth.  Wares  are  carelessly  heaped  up  in 
the  fashion  of  Eastern  bazaars  of  to-day.  In  front 
is  a  stone  bench  for  the  buyers.  On  a  table  of  the 
booth,  an  oriental  lantern,  lighted. 
Discovered,  HURAI,  in  warlike  dress,  and  a 
Philistine  asleep  in  the  shadow  of  the  steps,  c. 
Pacing  back  and  forth  on  the  wall,  ELIAB.  On 
the  bench,  R,  AMASA. 

[158] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

AMASA 

In  the  morning  the  battle  again,  clanking  of  sword 
and  glittering  of  spear. 

ELIAB 

And  may  the  battle  be  for  us,  for  David  and  the 
men  of  Gath. 

AMASA 

How  many  be  the  Israelites  that  lie  outside  ? 

ELIAB 

They  are  as  the  locusts  for  number. 
Enter,  R,  DAVID,  absorbed,  reading  from  a  parch 
ment  scroll. 

DAVID 

"To  David,  son  of  Jesse,  armor -bearer  of  King 
Saul,  greeting!"  For  so  was  I  in  the  former 
time.  "I,  Michal,  salute  thee,  in  remem 
brance  of  those  days  at  Gibeah  and  of  that 
harp  of  thine,  with  lilies  garlanded.  Lay 
down,  O  David,  thy  sword.  Take  up 
again  thy  harp  and  lift  thy  voice  in  song. 
Forget  the  bitterness  of  thy  heart  and  think 
upon  them  that  showed  thee  kindness.  Saul 
will  relent  toward  thee  if  thou  wilt  go  to 
him  as  once  thou  wast,  not  captain  of  out- 
[159] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

lawed  and  desperate  men,"  for  so  am  I, 
Amasa,  "  but  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel,  the 
greatly  beloved  of  the  king. "  For  so  was  I 
in  the  former  time.  "  Return,  O  David,  to  thy 
people.  I,  Michal,  beseech  thee.  " 

AMASA 
This  came  to  you  to-day  ? 

DAVID 

Not  to-day.     Many  days  ago.     And  this  has  been 

the  answer,  alas,  war,  war,  war. 
A  wailing  from  the  house  of  ACHISH.     HURAI  and 
the  Philistine  stir  uneasily  in  their  sleep. 

AMASA 
List,  David,  to  the  voice  of  weeping. 

DAVID 
Who  are  they? 

ELIAB 
They  are  the  captive  women,  women  of  Israel 

DAVID 
My  countrywomen! 

ELIAB 

This  night  captured  at  the  hands  of  one  of  the 
Philistine  lords. 

[160] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

as  the  weeping  sounds  again 

Captive,  my  countrywomen!  Their  souls  are 
sorrowful  and  they  will  not  sleep.  Bid  them 
hither.  Eliab,  bid  hither  the  captive  women 
that  I  may  speak  comfortably  to  them. 

ELIAB 

I  go  to  bring  them. 
Exit,  2  E  L,  ELIAB. 

DAVID 

My  soul  yearns  for  the  daughters  of  my  people. 
They  reproach  me  in  their  hearts,  even  as 
does  Michal,  Saul's  daughter. 

AMASA 

Has  Michal  not  sworn  belief  in  you  ?  Yes,  and 
Jonathan  also,  the  king's  son.  He  was  to 
you  as  a  brother. 

DAVID 

How  may  I  believe  that  their  heart  is  toward  me 
as  of  old,  when  I  am  thus  in  the  stronghold  of 
their  enemies  ?  Ay,  even  in  the  Cave  of  Adul- 
lam  Michal  turned  from  me  with  reproaches. 
He  takes  from  his  breast  the  parchment. 
[161] 


DAVIDOF    BETHLEHEM 

"I,  Michal,  salute  thee,  in  remembrance  of 
those  days  at  Gibeah  and  of  that  harp  of 
thine,  with  lilies  garlanded. "  Enter,  %  E  L, 
ELIAB,  with  captive  women.  Addressing  the 
women.  Fear  not  for  yourselves  at  all,  nei 
ther  be  troubled.  This  shall  be  for  you  all  a 
place  of  safety  and  a  refuge  in  time  of  war. 
The  women  bow  and  turn  to  pass  out.  Peace 
be  with  you.  DAVID  scans  them  carefully  as 
they  pass  him.  Exeunt,  %  E  L,  the  women. 
Eliab,  were  all  the  captive  women  here  ? 

ELIAB 

There  remains  yet  one. 

DAVID 

She  would  not  come? 

ELIAB 
She  scorned  me  utterly  and  set  me  at  nought. 

DAVID 

Bring  her  hither. 

ELIAB 

She  has  the  bearing  of  one  who  commands.     I 
failed  before  her. 

[162] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

Send  her  to  me.  Amasa,  you  are  more  honey 
mouthed,  go  to  her,  but  command  her  not. 
Entreat  her  courteously. 

AMASA 
I  go. 

DAVID 

Give  her  a — token.  He  thinks.  A  token  from 
me.  He  takes  from  his  neck  the  chain.  This 
chain. 

AMASA 

hesitating  to  accept  it 
It  is  Michal's. 

DAVID 
It  is  mine. 

AMASA 

The  chain  that  Michal  put  around  your  neck  on 
that  day  of  your  gladness. 

DAVID 
That  day  of  my  sadness.     Take  it. 

AMASA  as  he  goes  to  L 

The  chain  he  has  worn  so  long 

Exit  AMASA  2  E  L. 

[163] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

I  will  not  wear  it  again  till  Michal  herself  puts 
it  upon  me. 

ELIAB      to  the  sleeping  men 

Arouse  you,  arouse  you!  They  begin  to  awake. 
Up,  it  is  already  the  third  watch.  They 
awake. 

HURAI 
Is  it  morning  ? 

ELIAB 
It  is  your  watch  upon  the  western  wall.     They  rise. 

DAVID 

It  will  soon  be  morning.     Yet  it  seems  the  night 

has  lingered  for  a  cycle. 
Exeunt  HURAI  and  the  Philistine. 
Speak  to  me  further  of  this  captive  woman.     She 

is  long  in  coming. 

ELIAB 

Ay,  she  takes  her  time.  She  is  proud  as  a  king^s 
daughter. 

DAVID 

You  heard  her  voice,  sorrowful  like  the  wind 
among  the  cedars. 

[164] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

And  full  of  music  like  the  music  of  falling  waters  ? 
Answer  me!  Nay,  answer  me  not,  you  mav  not 

read  the  music  of  her  voice. 
How  walked    she,    light-foot    as    the    bird    that 

brushes  the  grasses 

And  they  bend  but  break  not  under  her  feet  ? 
Or  sat  she  in  quietness  with  bowed  forehead, 
Like  the  mourners  in  their  places  ? 

ELIAB 

Surely,  in  so  short  a  time  I  could  not  see  so  much. 
Enter,  2  E  L,  MICHAL,  veiled,  and  holding  in  her 
hands  the  gold  chain. 

DAVID 
Lady,    I   thank   you   for  your   coming.     Eliab, 

guard  the  eastern  defences. 
Exit,  1  E  L,  ELIAB. 

MICHAL 
Your  will  with  me  ? 

DAVID 
Michal! 

MICHAL 

Nay,  come  no  nearer  and  call  me  not  by  name.     I 
am  a  captive  woman  and  you  my  jailer. 
[165]   ' 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

As  Jehovah  lives,  my  God  and  yours,  my  heart  is 
toward  you  even  as  it  was  of  old.  Lift  up 
your  veil,  I  pray  you,  that  we  may  see  each 
other  face  to  face. 

MICHAL  Utterly 

You  would  have  me  stand  before  you  unveiled, 
the  more  to  grace  your  triumph. 

DAVID 
It  is  no  triumph,  but  a  day  of  desolation,  a  night 

of  weeping. 
MICHAL  lifts  her  veil. 

MICHAL 
Speak  and  let  me  go  in  peace. 

DAVID 

Believe  in  me.  This  is  all  my  prayer.  If  it  were 
an  enemy  that  reproached  me,  then  could  I 
bear  it.  But  it  is  you,  a  woman  mine  equal, 
mine  acquaintance,  and  my  beloved. 

MICHAL 

My  eyes  bear  witness  against  you  that  have  seen 
you  command  the  gates  of  Gath.     Even  by 
this  chain  also  are  you  false,  sending  forth 
men  to  spill  their  blood  that  gave  it  you. 
[166] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID 

The  gift  was  yours. 

MICHAL 
And  their  blood  is  in  my  veins. 

DAVID 

I  am  here  as  a  shelter  from  tempestuous  days  and 
the  arrows  of  the  envious.  Believe  it,  Michal. 

MICHAL 

So  I  would  fain  believe.  But  the  days  came  when 
I  durst  not  believe.  I  was  in  derision  daily. 
I  cried  out,  because  you  were  made  a  re 
proach  to  me.  Then  I  said,  "  I  will  not  make 
mention  of  him  nor  speak  any  more  his 
name. "  But  your  name  was  in  my  heart  as 
a  burning  fire  shut  up. 

DAVID 

Then  the  message  by  the  hand  of  the  scribe. 

MICHAL 

hiding  her  face  in  shame 

A  woman's  heart  fights  for  its  life  and  will  not  be 
slain.     On  my  knees  did  my  heart  cry  out  to 
you  for  mercy  and  you — gave  me  none. 
[167] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

putting  his  hand  to  his  breast 
Mercy  was  in  your  hand  to  give,  not  mine.     You 
the  home-keeping,  I  the  hunted. 

MICHAL 

Oh,  it  was  shame  to  me,  shame,  that  I  should  send 
to  you,  beg  you,  and  you — heed  not! 

DAVID 

Here  within  my  breast  your  message  has  rested, 
under  the  chain  your  hands  put  about  my 
neck.  You  remember  ? 

MICHAL 
I  remember. 

DAVID 
You  will  put  it  once  again  about  my  neck. 

MICHAL 
Never ! 

DAVID 

It  shall  be  in  token  of  perfect  understanding.  But 
here  on  my  breast  has  your  message  lain,  on 
my  heart.  I  need  not  to  open  the  scroll. 
Listen,  Michal. 

He  repeats  slowly. 

[168] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

"To  David,  son  of  Jesse,  armor-bearer  of  King 

Saul,  greeting! 
I,  Michal,  salute  thee,  in  remembrance  of  those 

days  at  Gibeah  and  of  that  harp  of  thine  with 

lilies  garlanded. 
Lay  down,  O  David,  thy  sword.     Take  up  again 

thy  harp  and  lift  thy  voice  in  song.     Forget 

the  bitterness  of  thine  heart  and  think  upon 

them  that  showed  thee  kindness. 
Saul  will  relent  toward  thee  if  thou  wilt  go  to  him 

as  once  thou  wast,  not  captain  of  outlawed 

and  desperate  men " 

MICHAL 
For  so  are  you. 

DAVID 

"  — but  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel,  the  greatly  be 
loved  of  the  king.  Return,  O  David, 
to  thy  people.  I " 

MICHAL 

I,  Michal,  beseech  thee!  Those  were  my  words. 
Those  are  still  my  words. 

DAVID 

Would  I  could  prove  to  you  my  love,  even  in  wan 
dering  and  in  exile.     This  night,  perhaps, 
[169] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

the  trial  may  come.    And  for  you  or  any  of 
your  house   I   would   spend   my  life-blood. 
And  then — you  would  put  the  chain  about 
my  neck,  in  token  of  perfect  understanding. 
The  sound  of  a  trumpet  is  heard. 

MICHAL 
I  am  afeard. 

DAVID 
It  is  for  the  gathering  together  of  the  people.  Stay, 

Michal.     Fear  not. 

Enter,  L  and  R,  ACHISH,  king  of  Goth,  SAPH, 
ELIAB,  and  others,  DAVID'S  followers  and  the  Phil 
istines. 

ACHISH 
We  will  make  him  king  over  his  people. 

ALL 

Ay,  ay. 

ACHISH 

David,  we  have  taken  counsel  together  and  I, 
king  of  Gath,  have  come  to  lay  the  matter 
before  you. 

DAVID 
Speak  on. 

[  170  ] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

ACHISH 

You  know  how  our  men  have  fallen  for  you  upon 
the  field.  To-morrow,  we  wish  you  to  lead 
out  your  followers  to  battle,  you  who  till  now 
have  kept  the  defences.  Lead  them  forth 
and  then  haply  from  Saul's  army  your  coun 
trymen  will  flock  to  your  standard,  those  who 
loved  you  of  old.  We  of  Gath  will  stand 
by  you  and  at  the  day's  end  the  crown  of  Is 
rael  shall  be  upon  your  head.  MICHAL  lis 
tens  earnestly.  Saul  and  the  house  of  Saul 
shall  be  beneath  your  feet  and  Philistia  and 
Israel  friends  forever. 

SAPH   AND   PHILISTINES 
Forever ! 

DAVID 

It  needs  but  one  word  to  make  firm  this  com 
pact — the  word  of  David. 

ACHISH 
Your  word,  O  David! 

SAPH 
Your  word  ? 

ELIAB 
Give  the  word,  Yes. 

[171] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ABINADAB 
Consent. 

DAVID 

You  ask  me  to  gather  round  my  standard  my  fol 
lowers  and  yours,  and  the  followers  of  Saul 
who  may  defect  from  his  ranks  in  battle — 
the  craven  and  disloyal — and  against  the 
people  of  my  tribe  and  of  his  to  make  war. 

ACHISH  AND  SAPH 
War,  war! 

DAVID 
The  reward — shall  be  the  crown  of  Israel  ? 

ACHISH 
The  crown  of  Israel ! 

DAVID 

And  the  price  ? 

ACHISH 
The  life  of  Jonathan  and  Saul. 

SAPH 
Their  life. 

ACHISH 
And  the  word  of  David  ? 

[172] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

MICHAL 

listening  more  and  more  intently 
The  word  of  David  ? 

DAVID 

The  word  of  David  is,  in  the  name  of  his  people, 
No! 

ACHISH 
What? 

SAPH 
He  refuses? 

ELIAB 
There  was  ever  a  streak  of  madness  in  David. 

SAPH 

Madness!  More  evil  than  madness,  I  swear  to 
you!  Treason  to  Achish  and  to  Gath! 

PHILISTINES 

suddenly  veering  to  hostility 
Traitor! 

SAPH 

Think  not,  Achish,  that  he  is  loyal  to  his  perse 
cutor,  the  mad  king.  How  would  this  be 
possible  ? 

PHILISTINES 
No,  no 

[173] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

SAPH 

If  he  will  not  fight  with  us,  he  is  against  us.  Let 
us  put  him  to  the  test. 

PHILISTINES 
Down  with  David. 

ELIAB 

Insolent  dogs! 

A  scuffle  between  the  followers  of  DAVID  and  the 
Philistines. 

DAVID  to  his  men 

Forbear !    Let  us  have  peace. 

ACHISH  to  Philistines 

Bide  your  time. 

SAPH 
Put  him  to  the  test! 

ACHISH 

Men  of  Gath,  he  has  come  to  us  irom  his  people, 
hunted  like  a  wild  beast  on  the  hills.  He  has 
been  to  me  a  friend  and  a  lover.  Even  as  an 
angel  has  his  countenance  been  to  me. 

SAPH 

Why,  then,  will  he  not  fight  with  us  and  over 
throw  the  madman  who  drove  him  hither  ? 
[174] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

PHILISTINES  led  by  SAPH 

Treason ! 
They  move  angrily  toward  DAVID. 

MICHAL  to  DAVID 

Answer  them.     They  will  slay  you. 

DAVID 

Achish  and  ye  men  of  Gath,  listen  to  me.  You 
say  you  do  not  believe  in  me  nor  in  the  pledge 
of  fealty  I  have  taken  to  your  king  ?  You  say 
that  in  my  heart  I  harbor  treason,  that  I 
will  turn  against  you  in  secret  and  betray 
your  cause  ? 

SAPH 
That  and  more  do  we  say. 

DAVID 

Well  and  good.  If  then  I  should  lead  forth  my 
following  against  Israel,  how  quickly,  O 
Philistines,  I  might  join  my  forces  with  my 
countrymen  and  on  the  field  of  battle  betray 
your  cause,  to  benefit  my  own  with  the  king 
of  Israel ! 

ACHISH  to  Philistines 

You  hear? 

They  nod,  following  DAVID  intently. 
[175] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID 

In  the  crisis  of  battle  easily  might  the  balance  be 
turned  and  you  would  be  crushed  by  the  over 
weight  of  Israel. 

PHILISTINES 

Ay,  ay. 

ACHISH 
He  speaks  wisdom. 

DAVID 

This,  were  I  disloyal  to  Gath,  might  be  my  way 
to  Saul's  favor.  If  you  believe  me  traitor, 
fear  to  send  me  forth. 

ACHISH 
You  hear  ? 

PHILISTINES  satisfied 

Ay,  ay. 

DAVID 

Go  forth  as  you  will  and  leave  me  warden  of  the 
walls  and  defender  of  your  gates.  This  do  I 
with  all  good  will. 

SAPH 

What  proof  of  his  loyalty  to  us  ? 
[  176  ] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

MICHAL       stepping  forward 

Achish,  king  of   Gath,  and  you   his   men,  hear 

me,  though  I  am  but  a  captive  and  a  woman. 

ACHISH 
Speak,  Michal,  daughter  of  Saul. 

MICHAL 

This  night  has  David  given  proof  of  his  loyalty  to 
Gath. 

ACHISH 

Your  meaning  ? 

MICHAL 

His  loyalty  this  night  to  Saul.  Cheers  of  Philis 
tines  and  Israelites.  For  he  who  is  loyal  to 
the  friend  that  has  disowned  him,  will  he  not 
even  more  be  loyal  to  the  friend  that  stands 
by? 

Enter,  1  E  L,  AMASA. 

AMASA 
I  bring  tidings. 

ACHISH 
Speak  quickly. 

AMASA 

A  messenger  from  Saul  under  cover  of  a  flag  of 
truce. 

[177] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ACHISH 

A  truce !    From  Saul ! 

Enter,  1  E  L,  JONATHAN  and  two  soldiers  carrying 
the  flag.  JONATHAN  does  not  look  at  DAVID.  DA 
VID  leans  toward  JONATHAN,  his  face  and  attitude 
eloquent  of  love  and  anguish. 

JONATHAN 

King  Saul  to  the  king  of  Gath,  salutation!  Oh 
Achish,  as  you  know  full  well,  the  half  of 
your  valiant  host  perished  to-day  in  the  field 
of  battle  and  are  become  food  for  the  raven. 
The  king  of  the  Bene-Israel  is  encamped  be 
fore  your  gates.  O  Achish,  upon  one  condi 
tion  will  Saul  withdraw  his  army.  Give  into 
our  hands  to  do  with  as  is  fit,  that  desperate 
rebel  you  harbor,  David  of  Bethlehem. 

At  JONATHAN'S  words,  DAVID  stifles  a  cry. 

ACHISH 

Haply  without  condition  from  Saul  shall  Gath 
escape. 

JONATHAN 

Gath  is  doomed.  Behold  from  the  walls  how 
she  is  circled  about. 

[178] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

ACHISH 
David  we  will  not  return  to  you. 

ALL 

No,  no. 

DAVID 

looking  earnestly  to  JONATHAN 
Speak  to  me,  Jonathan,  my  brother. 

JONATHAN 

disregarding  DAVID 

You  hold  Saul's  daughter,  Michal.     Return  to  me 
Michal,  and  Saul  will  relinquish  the  battle. 

ACHISH 

By  what  sign  shall  Saul  know  on  the  instant  that 
Michal  is  released? 

JONATHAN      taking  a  lantern 
This  light  waved  twice  shall  be  for  a  sign  of  peace. 
We  will  strike  our  tents.     We  will  sheathe  our 
swords. 

DAVID 

fronting  JONATHAN  so  that  perforce  their  eyes  meet 
And  for  a  sign  of  war  ? 

JONATHAN  to  ACHISH 

The  light,  waved  once  from  the  wall,  shall  be  a 
sign  of  fire.     A  sign  of  refusal. 
[179] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 
A  sign  of  fire,  a  sign  of  refusal ! 

DAVID 

holding  his  arms  wide  to  JONATHAN 
War!     But  not  between  us,  not  between  us,  Jona 
than,  my  brother. 
JONATHAN  refuses  response,  turning  to  ACHISH. 

JONATHAN 
Your  answer? 

ACHISH 
Michal  we  release. 

MICHAL     clinging  to  DAVID 
David,  speak  for  me. 

DAVID 

Michal  will  abide  with  the  city  of  Gath  and  with 
David  her  captain. 

JONATHAN   struck  to  the  heart 
My  sister ! 

MICHAL 

I  will  never  return  to — that  bridal. 
JONATHAN  wheels  to  leave.     DAVID  intercepts  him. 
[  180  ] 


ACT    FIVE:    SCENE    ONE 

DAVID    with  intense  emotion 
Jonathan,  my  brother — before  we  part! 
He  holds  out  his  arms  pleadingly. 
By  our  oath  of  friendship  sworn  at  my  home-com 
ing.     Jonathan ! 

JONATHAN 
That  oath — 

DAVID 

in  the  words  of  Act  III 

Jehovah  do  so  to  me  and  more  also  if  I  keep  it  not. 
Not  only  while  yet  I  live  will  I  show  you  kind 
ness,  but  I  will  not  cut  off  my  kindness  from 
your  house  forever  and  ever. 

JONATHAN  is  slowly  won  to  DAVID.  They  em 
brace  in  parting.  JONATHAN  and  his  soldiers  go 
out.  DAVID  and  MICHAL  are  silent,  deeply  moved. 

ACHISH 

The  light,  the  sign ! 

DAVID  takes  the  lantern  and  mounts  the  steps  to  the 
wall. 

MICHAL, 

The  single  lamp,  swung  once. 
She  raises  her  arm. 
In  the  name  of  David! 

[181] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

DAVID  waves  the  lantern  once  and  lets  it  jail  with  a 
crash  into  the  square  below. 

DAVID 
In  the  name  of  Michal ! 


DARK   CHANGE 
END    OF   SCENE   I 


[182] 


ACT  V 

SCENE  II:  CITY  SQUARE  AT  DAWN.  Dead  body 
of  SAPH  under  the  shadow  of  the  wall.  ELIAB, 
ABINADAB,  and  SHAMMAH  enter,  R,  running. 
ACHISH,  coming  from  L,  meets  them. 

ACHISH 

Back  to  the  eastern  tower,  ye  dogs,  cravens! 
They  huddle  together,  chattering  in  terror. 
Back,  ye  feeble-hearted!  ABINADAB  com 
mences  speaking,  but  is  inarticulate  through 
fright.  Has  craven  fear  cut  the  tongues 
from  your  heads  ? 

ELIAB 

Oh,  Achish,  the  eastern  tower  is  doomed.  We 
will  not  go  back. 

ACHISH 
Will  not !     Ha,  what  is  this  you  say  ? 

ABINADAB 

Since  David  fell,  struck  by  the  accursed  arrow,  a 
spell  is  on  the  tower.     The  men  who  stand 
[183] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

there  are  picked  off  like  fruit  from  the  tree. 
We  cannot  go  back. 

ACHISH 
Cannot!    A  lie!    Back,  dogs! 

SHAMMAH 

Every  arrow  of  the  enemy  brings  down  its  prey. 
Since  David  fell  there  is  no  heart  in  us.  We 
dare  not ! 

ACHISH 

The  truth  at  last.  Dare  not !  Is  there  not  a  man 
here  to  guard  the  eastern  tower?  Where  is 
Saph,  the  fearless,  the  invincible  ? 

ELIAB  pointing 

There  he  lies,  Saph,  fearless  in  death,  invincible 
in  death. 

ACHISH 

Slain!  Saph,  son  of  the  Anakim!  Take  away 
the  body  of  the  dead,  lest  it  strike  cowards  of 
us  all.  They  remove  the  body,  exeunt  by  L. 
Saph,  son  of  Goliath,  mighty  one,  thou  who 
wast  a  bulwark  in  battle,  hast  been  over 
thrown  by  a  very  little  thing.  David,  too, 
the  high-hearted,  the  songful,  how  art  thou 
[184] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

silenced  before  this  same  arrow's  prick,  this 
small  snake,  winged  and  hissing.  The  three 
brothers  return,  L.  Enter  from  house,  MICHAL. 

MICHAL 
He  cries  for  water. 

ACHISH 
Who? 

MICHAL 
David. 

ACHISH 
David!     He  lives! 

MICHAL 

He  is  Jehovah's  anointed.  He  cannot  die  till 
that  he  come  unto  his  own.  But  he  begs  for 
water  from  the  well  without  the  gate. 

ELIAB 
The  well  without  the  eastern  tower ! 

MICHAL 
The  well  of  Gath  below  the  eastern  tower. 

SHAMMAH 

It  is  under  the  fiercest  assault  of  the  enemy. 
[185] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

ACHISH 

By  the  moon  of  Astarte,  is  he  mad  ?  Does  he  not 
know  that  the  battle  rages  and  that  it  is 
death  to  venture  below  that  wall,  open  to  the 
arrows  of  Saul's  bowmen  ? 

MICHAL 

He  is  wild  with  fever.  How  can  he  know  ?  He 
is  not  himself  and  like  a  child  he  begs  for  wa 
ter  from  the  well  without  the  gate.  His  blood 
is  on  fire. 

ELIAB 
I  will  go  for  the  water. 

ACHISH 
You! 

ABINADAB  AND  SHAMMAH 
And  I! 

ACHISH 

You  that  feared  the  eastern  tower  like  the  fires  of 
Moloch! 

SHAMMAH 
We  fear  not  now. 

MICHAL 
God  be  with  you! 
Exeunt,  R,  the  three. 

[186] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

ACHISH 

They  were  with  fear  palsied  when  I  but  spoke  the 
name  of  that  eastern  tower.  They  were  root 
ed  to  the  ground  with  fear. 

MICHAL  simply 

But  this  is  for  David. 

ACHISH 

The  very  name  has  power.  He  mounts  the  steps 
to  the  wall  and  sounds  of  battle  come  from  be 
low.  Courage!  We  shall  yet  win  the  day, 
though  it  be  a  costly  one.  Courage! 

Exit  ACHISH,  L,  by  wall.  Enter  from  house, 
AM  AS  A  and  a  Philistine,  carrying  DAVID. 

AMASA 
Let  him  breathe  the  open  air. 

MICHAL          running  to  him 
A  pillow,  a  pillow  for  his  head ! 
They  bring  her  silks  and  stuffs  from  the  booth. 
She  kneels  by  him. 
David,  my  lover!     Will  he  not  speak? 

AMASA 

My  captain!     No,  he  cannot  speak! 
[  187  ] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 
Ah,  but  he  breathes,  he  lives,  Amasa.     He  will 

live.     He  will  live  to  be  king  over  my  people. 

Will  he  not  live? 

The   two  young   men,  deeply  moved,  turn  away, 
walking  to  R. 
David,  look  at  me,  hear  me.     I  am  Michal. 

AMASA 
He  cannot  hear. 

MICHAL 

This  is  the  chain  I  have  put  upon  you.  Take  it 
within  your  hand.  It  is  a  token  of  perfect 
understanding.  David  raises  a  hand  grop 
ingly.  She  puts  the  chain  between  his  fingers. 
He  hears.  He  understands.  He  looks  at  me 
with  the  seeing  eye.  She  buries  her  face  upon 
his  breast  in  tender  joy. 

DAVID  faintly 

The  flames  creep  over  me.  They  consume  me 
utterly.  Water,  water! 

AMASA 

He  thirsts.     What  shall  we  bring  him  to  drink  ? 
[188] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 

From  the  well  of  Gath,  cold  as  snow-water  from 
Hermon,  pure  as  the  waters  of  Bethlehem. 
Water,  water! 

MICHAL 

They  have  gone  to  bring  you  water  from  the  well. 
DAVID  relapses  to  unconsciousness. 

AMASA 
Who  have  gone? 

MICHAL, 
His  brothers. 

AMASA 
From  the  well  of  Gath  ? 

MICHAL 
The  well  below  the  eastern  tower. 

AMASA 
It  was  in  jeopardy  of  their  lives. 

MICHAL 
But  it  was  for  David. 

AMASA 

We  will  go  to  hasten  them,  to  help  them. 
[  189  ] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL, 
Farewell. 
Exeunt,  R,  AMASA  and  the  Philistine. 

DAVID  delirious 

I  will  call  them  and  they  will  hear  me.  I  will  sing. 
My  harp!  He  gropes  blindly,  raising  him 
self.  It  is  the  dim  and  black  night.  I  can 
not  find  my  harp.  But  they  will  hear  my 
voice  and  they  will  know  me.  They  will 
come  into  the  fold.  He  sings. 

The  Lord  my  shepherd  is, 

I  shall  not  want. 
In  the  green  pastures  shall  I  lie 

And  walk  beside  still  waters. 
The  Lord  my  soul  restores, 

He  leadeth  me 
In  paths  of  righteousness 

For  His  name's  sake. 

He  sinks  back  exhausted.     The  noise  of  battle  is 
heard. 

MICHAL 

Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead,  is  there  no  physician 
here,  to  heal  the  wound  of  my  beloved,  for 
his  wound  is  grievous  ? 
[190] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 

Jehovah  thunders  on  Lebanon.     The  brooks  of 

Kedron  war  among  their  water-courses.     My 

sheep  are  lost  on  the  mountains  and  they 

will  not  find  their  resting-place. 
Fragmentary  memories  of  his  life  come  to  him,  the 
happiness  of  his  return  from  war  to  Gibeah,  the 
song  before  SAUL,  the  javelin-throwing,  the  parting 
in  the  Cave  of  Adullam. 

There  is  another  song,  but  I  have  forgotten  it. 
He  sings  hesitatingly. 
God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 
A  very  present  help  in  trouble ; 

Therefore  I  will  not  fear 

He  cries  out  as  if  in  great  terror. 

I  am  wounded,  struck  to  the  heart!     O  my  lord 

king! 

MICHAL 

in  an  agony  of  sympathy 
Fear  not,  David  my  captain.     My  right  hand  is 

under  your  head  and  my  left  hand  supports 

you.     David,  it  is  I. 

DAVID  delirious 

This  day  shall  you  choose  between  a  king's  crown 

and  Michal.     I  charge  you,  O  Michal,  to  re- 
[191] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

member  my  love.  Many — waters — cannot 
— quench — love,  neither  can  the — floods — 
drown — it.  She  has  forgotten. 

MICHAL 
David,  my  lover,  I  remember  and  I  understand. 

DAVID 

She  is  far  from  me.     Her  thoughts  are  not  my 
thoughts  nor  are  her  ways  my  ways. 

MICHAL  pleadingly 

I  have  not  forgotten.     I  remember  and  under 
stand. 

DAVID 
Many  waters  cannot  quench  love.     But — she — 

has — forgotten. 
He  sings,  falling  asleep. 
There  is  a  river  the  streams  whereof  shall  make 

glad  the  City  of  God, 

The  dwelling  place 

MICHAL,  rising  gently,  looks  at  him. 

MICHAL, 

He  sleeps.     The  Lord  gives  his  beloved  sleep. 
Enter,  2  E  L,  EGLAH  and  six  Philistine  women,  in 
yellow  and  garlanded.     They  bear  burning  censers 
[  192  ] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

for  the  worship  of  Astarte  and  a  golden  image  of 
the  goddess.  They  swing  their  censers  and  com- 
mence  chanting. 

WOMEN 
Glory!     Glory! 

MICHAL 

stepping  forward  with  a  finger  to  her  lips 
Peace,  peace,  I  entreat  you.     He  sleeps. 

EGLAH 
What  is  that  to  us  ? 

WOMEN 
Astarte,  hear  us! 

MICHAL 

Peace !  Is  your  heart  a  stone  ?  If  you  must  sing 
and  chant,  sing  lowly  for  he  sleeps  and  sleep 
is  life. 

WOMEN  very    softly 

Hear  us,  hear  us,  Queen  of  Heaven, 
Astarte,  hear  our  prayer. 
Glory,  glory,  great  is  Astarte! 
MICHAL  directs  them  with  arm  outstretched  like  a 
choral  leader. 

[193] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 

Softly,  softly!     The  women,  still  chanting  softly^ 
go  within,  L.     Queen  of  Heaven!     She  hath 
been  cut  out  of  the  forest  with  an  axe  and 
gilded  with  fine  gold  in  the  furnace. 
Enter,  R,  the  three  brothers  with  a  water-skin  of 
water.     MICHAL  meets  them  in  silence.     One  of 
them  brings  her  a  goblet  from  the  booth.     Water  is 
poured  into  it  and  MICHAL  goes  to  DAVID.    AM  AS  A 
appears  from  L  on  the  wall. 

AMASA 
The  army  of  the  enemy  flee.     They  turn  them  like 

locusts  before  the  fiery  whirlwind. 
DAVID  arouses. 

MICHAL 

holding  the  goblet  to  him 
Water  from  the  well  of  Gath. 

DAVID 

taking  the  goblet  wonderingly 
Water! 

MICHAL 

You  prayed  most  earnestly  for  water  from  the  well 
without  the  gate. 

[194] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 

A  darkness  has  been  upon  my  lids,  but  now  it 
is  day!  Water  from  the  well! 

MICHAL 

Your  brothers  brought  it  to  you.     Drink! 
DAVID  looks  long  at  his  three  brothers  standing 
near. 

ELIAB 

Drink! 

DAVID 

pouring  out  the  water  slowly 

Far  be  it  from  me  that  I  should  drink  this  cup! 
Let  it  be  as  an  offering  to  heaven  in  memory 
of  this  day  and  in  gratitude  for  the  day's  mer 
cies.  Is  it  not  the  blood  of  these  men  that 
went  in  jeopardy  of  their  lives  ?  Lo,  my 
thirst  is  quenched.  He  rises.  Watchman, 
what  of  the  night? 

AMASA 
The  night  is  over  and  past.     The  day  dawns. 

DAVID 
How  goes  the  battle  ? 

[195] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL  by  his  side 

Have  a  care  for  your  wound. 

DAVID 
I  am  healed  and  strong. 

AMASA 

Behold  a  herald  comes  running.  He  comes 
apace.  He  is  near. 

DAVID 
Are  there  tidings  in  his  mouth  ? 

MICHAL 
What  does  he  say  ? 

A  silence  while  AMASA  listens. 

AMASA 

The  general  of  the  host  of  Israel  has  fallen.  Abner 
has  fallen. 

DAVID 
Tremble  not,  Michal.     Jehovah  will  be  merciful. 

AMASA 
Lo,  another.     He  runs  apace.     He  draws  near. 

DAVID 

Another  has  fallen,  one  of  the  mighty.  Ask  him, 
Amasa,  is  Saul  the  king,  safe,  and  Jonathan, 
his  son  ? 

[196] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

MICHAL 
What  says  the  second  messenger?     Speak. 

AMASA 

Tidings,  my  lord  David.  For  you  are  avenged 
this  day  of  all  that  rose  up  against  you  to  do 
vou  hurt. 

DAVID 

They  have  not  fallen  in  battle,  Saul  my  king,  and 
Jonathan,  his  son  ? 

MICHAL 
Speak! 

AMASA 
The  enemies  of  my  lord  David  and  all  that  rise  up 

against  you  to  do  you  hurt  be  as  they  are  this 

day! 
DAVID  in  silence  bows  his  head.     MICHAL  cries 

out. 

MICHAL 
Alas,  my  father,  my  brother! 

DAVID 
Jonathan,  my  friend,  my  brother,  would  God  I 

had  died  for  you,  my  brother,  my  friend! 

Enter,  L  and  R,  ACHISH  and  Philistines,  DAVID'S 

[197] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

followers  and  lastly  DOEG,  carrying  SAUL'S  crown 
and  bracelet. 

ACHISH 
David,  king  of  Israel,  we  salute  you! 

ALL 

David,  David,  king! 
Enter,  from  the  house,  the  Hebrew  women. 

HEBREW   WOMEN 
David  of  Bethlehem !    All  hail ! 

MICHAL 
Alas,  my  father,  my  brother! 

DOEG 
David,  king  of  Israel,  I  salute  you ! 

DAVID  in  stern  anger 

You  also! 

DOEG 

My  lord,  when  I  learned  the  words  of  the  prophet 
concerning  you,  I  repented  me  of  my  blind 
ness.  Will  it  please  you  to  pardon  mine 
offences  and  accept  at  my  hand  these  tokens 
of  your  sovereignty? 

DOEG  advances  with  the  crown. 
[198] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

DAVID 

with  repellent  hand  outstretched 

How  know  you  that  Saul  and  Jonathan  are  dead  ? 

How  went  the  matter  ?      I  pray  you,  tell  me ! 

DOEG 

As  I  happened  by  chance  upon  a  certain  spot  in 
yonder  plain,  Saul  leaned  upon  his  spear 
and  lo,  the  chariots  and  horsemen  followed 
hard  upon  him. 

MICHAL 
Alas,  my  father! 

DOEG 

He  saw  me  and  called  unto  me  and  I  said :  "  Here 
am  I."  He  said  unto  me:  "Stand,  I  pray 
you,  upon  me,  and  slay  me,  for  anguish  is 
come  upon  me. "  So  I  stood  upon  him  and 
slew  him. 

MICHAL 
You! 

DOEG 

Because  I  was  sure  that  he  could  not  live  after  he 
was  fallen  in  battle.  And  I  took  the  crown 

and  the  bracelet  that  he  wore  on  his  arm 

[199] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

MICHAL 

approaching  DOEG  with  impetuous  scorn 
You!     Give   them   here.     You   are   not   worthy 

even  to  hold  them. 
She  takes  them  from  DOEG. 

DAVID 

who  has  been  listening  with  stony  self-restraint 
How  were  you  not  afraid  to  stretch  forth  your 
hand  to  destroy  the  Lord's  anointed?     He 
smites  DOEG  down.     Solemnly.     Carry  him 
forth  from  this  place.     DOEG'S  body  is  taken 
up.      His  blood  be  upon  his  head,  for  his 
mouth  has  testified  against  him,  saying,  "  I 
have  slain  the  Lord's  anointed. " 
Exeunt  men  with  DOEG'S  body. 

MICHAL 

approaching  DAVID  with  the  crown 
Your  crown,  O  David,  King  of  Israel ! 
DAVID  regards  MICHAL  in  silence  and  unseeingly 
while  all  watch  him  in  reverent  awe.  A  vision 
ary  expression  comes  to  his  face  and  he  lifts  his 
arms  in  poetic  exaltation  of  grief. 

DAVID 

The  beauty  of  Israel  is  slain  upon  thy  high  places ; 
How  are  the  mighty  fallen! 
[200] 


ACT     FIVE:     SCENE     TWO 

How  are  the  mighty  fallen  in  the  midst  of  the 

battle! 
Tell  it  not  in  Gath;  publish  it  not  in  the  streets  of 

Askelon. 

Ye  mountains  of  Gilboa,  let  there  be  no  dew, 
Neither  let  there  be  rain  upon  you,  nor  fields  of 

offerings : 
For  there  the  shield  of  the  mighty  is  vilely  cast 

away. 

The  shield  of  Saul. 
From  the  blood  of  the  slain,  from  the  fat  of  the 

mighty, 

The  bow  of  Jonathan  turned  not  back, 
And  the  sword  of  Saul  returned  not  empty. 

Saul  and  Jonathan  were  lovely  and  pleasant  in 

their  lives, 

And  in  their  death  they  were  not  divided : 
They  were  swifter  than  eagles, 
They  were  stronger  than  lions. 

Ye  daughters  of  Israel,  weep  over  Saul, 
Who  clothed  you  in  scarlet  with  other  delights, 
Who  put  ornaments  of  gold  upon  your  apparel. 
How  are  the  mighty  fallen  in  the  midst  of  the 
battle! 

[201] 


DAVID    OF    BETHLEHEM 

0  Jonathan,  thou  wast  slain  in  thine  high  places. 

1  am  grieved  for  you,  my  brother  Jonathan ! 
Very  pleasant  hast  thou  been  unto  me, 
Thy  love  to  me  was  wonderful. 

How  are  the  mighty  fallen, 

And  the  weapons  of  war  perished ! 

The  first  rays  of  the  rising  sun  illumine  DAVID'S 

face.     MICHAL  holds  the  crown  before  him. 

MICHAL 
Your  crown,  O  David,  King  of  Israel! 

ALL 

All  hail,  David,  King! 
DAVID  raises  his  hand  in  a  gesture  of  silence. 

DAVID  after  a  pause 

Michal,  my  queen ! 

He  takes  the  crown  and  holds  it  above  the  bowed 
head  of  MICHAL. 

CURTAIN 


END  OF  PLAT 


MARY  MAGDALEN 


SYNOPSIS     OF     SCENES 

ACT  ONE 

SCENE  :  The  House  of  Mary. 
"The  Desire  of  the  Eyes." 

ACT  TWO 

SCENE  :  The  Pool  of  Bethesda.     (Same  Evening.) 
"  The  Vexing  of  the  Waters." 

ACT  THREE 

SCENE:  The  House  of  Mary.     (Next  Evening.) 

"If  any  man  will  come  after  Me  let  him  deny  himself  and  take 
up  his  cross  and  follow  Me." 

ACT  FOUR 

(Two  months  elapse.) 
SCENE  I :  The  House  of  the  Wool-dyer. 

SCENE  II :  The  Porch  of  the  Temple. 
1  Her  sins,  which  are  many,  are  forgiven  her,  for  she  loved  much. 


PERSONS 


MARY  MAGDALEN  DEBORAH 

ZILLAH  CLEO 

AZUBAH  SHUBAB 
PHILIP  THE  TETRARCH  BARUCH 

ELON  SIMEON 

ITHOMAR  JUDE 

RACHEL  DATHAN 
JOANNA 


Servants,  Soldiers,  Men  and  Women. 


ACT  I 

SCENE:  A  luxurious  apartment  in  MARY'S  house. 
Musicians  in  a  small  balcony  with  Syrian  instru 
ments,  harp,  cymbal,  tambourine.  %  exits  L, 
respectively  to  the  supper  room  and  other  rooms  and 
to  MARY'S  chamber.  R  E  to  the  street.  Wide  lat 
ticed  window,  c.  Small  table  set  with  wine  and 
fruits.  Draped  alcove  between  columns  toward 
which  attention  is  directed. 
TIME — Afternoon. 

DISCOVERED — PHILIP,  the  tetrarch,  a  pale  pee 
vish  man,  proud  of  his  station  and  descent.  ELON, 
a  degenerate  Jew,  his  sycophant  creature,  conspicu 
ous  for  two  teeth  like  tusks,  beady  eyes  and  a  yellow 
scarf.  ZILLAH,  friend  of  MARY,  a  morose  beauty. 
AZTJBAH,  friend  of  MARY,  a  tender  girl  of  childish 
mien.  Others,  women  of  doubtful  gayety  and 
men  of  arrogant  bearing.  All  tend  toward  the  cur 
tained  alcove,  PHILIP  and  AZUBAH  leading. 

PHILIP    turning  to  AZUBAH 
Where  is  this  marble  wonder  of  a  woman  ? 
[207] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

ELON 

crowding  to  the  alcove 

Was  he  a  lover,  too,  the  long-limbed  Greek 
Who  sculptured  her? 

ZILLAH 

with  a  veiled  sneer 
A.  friend  platonic  he, 
Set  to  the  tune  of  poem  and  cyclic  dance. 

AZUBAH 

holding  aside  the  curtain 
Is  it  not  exquisite  as  breath  of  spring  ? 
That  step  like  wind  among  the  river  grasses, 
That  brow  like  morning  on  the  top  of  Herrnon ! 
PHILIP,  entranced,  cannot  speak. 

ELON 
A  woman,  you  waste  praises  on  a  woman. 

AZUBAH 
Because  I  am  a  woman  I  praise  Mary. 

PHILIP  confusedly 

The  marble  bosom  and  the  lips  of  snow, 
This  is  not  our  sweet  Syrian  Aphrodite, 
The  glowing-limbed,  wild-tressed  Bacchanal. 

[208] 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

ELON 
Fresh  as  the  Paphian  from  her  bath  of  foam ! 

PHILIP  angrily 

Elon,  I  have  not  bid  you  whine  for  me, 
You  lap-eared  puppy  of  a  puling  people ! 

AZUBAH  smilingly 

Nay,  be  at  peace! 

PHILIP  as  to  a  child 

Slip  of  a  Jewish  girl, 
Would  you  fain  try  your  strength  with  Philip 

tetrarch 

Of  wide-spread  Auranitis,  Itursea, 
Of  Batanaea  and  of  Trachinitis  ? 
Enter  MARY,  L  c,  followed  by  SHUBAB,  a  half-nude 
Ethiopian  lad,  clad  in  garlands  and  fantastic  dra 
peries.   All  turn  expectantly  to  her.    Some  lingering 
sounds  of  the  snarl  from  PHILIP. 

MARY       with  breezy  scorn 
How  blithesomely  you  pass  the  time  together, 
Like  jealous  courtiers  when  the  king  is  gone! 

PHILIP 

leading  her  to  a  chair 
The  empress  gone ! 

[209] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 

mimicking  them  in  turn 
Brave  Elon  black  as  thunder, 
Little  Azubah  plucking  at  proud  Rome, 
A  dove  before  a  hawk — Shubab,  fill  up ! 
SHUBAB  pours  wine  and  passes  it. 
Friends,  let  us  eat  and  drink  and  all  make  merry, 
For  on  the  morrow — what  man  knows  the  morrow  ? 

ELON      in  his  shallow  voice 
To-morrow  we  shall  live  and  still  make  merry. 

AZUBAH 

with  wistful  prevision  of  trouble 
Who  knows  the  fruit  to-morrow's  tree  puts  forth  ? 

PHILIP 

reclining  by  MARY,  as  the  wine  is  passed  him 
I  need  no  wine  to  flame  along  my  blood, 
Mary,  when  you  are  nigh. 

MARY 

Give  me  the  beaker. 
Silence  from  all. 
I  drink  to — those  I  love. 

PHILIP 

To  Philip,  then! 
[210] 


ACT    ONE:    SCENE    ONE 

MARY  looking  far  off 

I  drink  this  cup  to  one  who  shines  afar. 
She  drinks. 
Exclamations  of  wonder  from  all. 

PHILIP 

He  is  no  lover  if  he  comes  not  to  you. 
MARY,  leaning  her  elbow  on  the  cushions,  seems 
lost  in  thought. 

ELON  to  ZILLAH 

I  wonder  who  he  is. 

ZILLAH 

I  know  the  man; 
'Tis  Ithomar,  the  son  of  Ithrael. 

MARY 

So!     Out  upon  you,  voluble  blabbing  girl, 
With  your  "I  know,  I  know,"  that  nothing  know. 
Your  eyes  have  never  looked  on  Ithomar. 

AZUBAH      peacemaker  again 

When  I  was  in  my  mother's  house  a  child 

She  hesitates. 

ELON  eagerly 

Go  on. 
All  listen. 

[211] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

AZUBAH 

This  Ithomar  was  neighbor  to  us, 
The  prettiest  lad  through  all  the  country-side. 

MAEY 

with  assumed  carelessness 
They  say  his  beauty  is  transcendent  still, 
Like  one  of  those  fair  fabled  gods  the  Greek 
Has  sung  me  of  upon  his  barbarous  lyre. 
Again  she  goes  into  rapt  thought. 

PHILIP 

to  depreciate  ITHOMAR 
I  have  heard  he  calls  himself  a  patriot, 
This  Jewish  fellow,  in  your  Sanhedrin, 
And  crassly  fools  your  scribes  and  Pharisees 
With  foolish  dreams  of  civic  independence. 

ELON 

like  a  gossiping  old  woman.     All  gather  round  him 
to  listen 

He  has  ranged  through  land  and  sea,  this  Itho 
mar; 

He  has  a  vase  of  alabaster,  carved 
With  cunning  workmanship  of  flower  and  leaf 
And  human  countenances  interwrought. 
[212] 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

ZILLAH 

They  say  he  keeps  it  in  a  secret  shrine 
And  worships  it  in  place  of  love  or  wine. 
MARY  rises,  goes  to  the  group,  interrupting  impe 
riously. 

MARY 

This  vase  of  alabaster  shall  be  ours. 
Hark  ye,  'twill  be  the  ransom  of  my  favor, 
Poised  like  a  trophy  on  that  pedestal. 

ALL 
The  statue  then? 

MARY 

What  care  I  for  the  statue, 
When  I  have  won  the  mystic,  worshipful, 
Strange,  alabaster  vase  of  Ithomar, 
Symbol  and  pledge  of  utter  vanquishment 
Before  the  banners  of  resplendent  love. 
Listen,  my  friends,  I  bid  you  to  a  feast, 
When  three  more  suns  have  risen  and  wheeled 

and  »set, 
I  bid  you  to  the  triumph  of  the  vase. 

ZILLAH  to  ELON 

Her  heart  is  fixed  on  snaring  Ithomar; 
She  hath  asked  him  many  a  time 

[213] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 

What  babble  you  ? 

ZILLAH 
I  spoke 

MARY 

If  babble  may  be  speech — you  spoke, 
And  this  is  what  under  your  breath  you  spoke, 
(I  do  not  fear  to  cry  it  out  aloud) 
That  I  have  bidden  to  me  Ithomar. 
I  drink  again  to  Ithomar — our  guest — 
To  Ithomar,  philosopher  and — man. 
She  drinks  and  with  her  all  but  PHILIP 

PHILIP  sneeringly 

'Tis  well ;  but  not  philosopher  and  lover, 
For  he  who  loves  does  not  philosophize. 

ZILLAH  to  ELON 

He  never  looks  on  women ;  he  will  not  come. 

MARY 

What  babble  you  again  ?     He  will  not  come  ? 
He  never  looks  on  women  ?     Still,  forsooth, 
To  women  he  may  be  blind  and  not  to  me. 
I  am  not  one  in  many,  in  the  mob 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

PHILIP 

One  out  of  many,  one  supremely  set; 
Drinking. 
To  Mary,  burning  goddess  of  the  east ! 

MARY 
I  have  learned  that  Bacchic  dance  you  pictured 

me, 

That  mad  lonians  dance  beneath  the  moon 
To  their  Astarte-goddess. 

PHILIP 

Aphrodite  ? 

MARY 
It  matters  not.     The  sculptor  was  my  master. 

PHILIP 
The  long-limbed  fellow ! 

ALL 

Dance,  show  us  the  dance! 

MARY 

She  frees  herself  of  scarfs  and  draperies.     To  the 
musicians: 

The  music  should  breathe  tenderly  at  first 
As  that  faint  little  fluttering  breeze  of  dawn 
[215] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

That  wakes  the  birds  and  shakes  the  olive  buds ; 
Afterward,  like  slow  swelling  of  the  storm 
When  white  with  anger  gleams  the  horizon  edge, 
Till  all  the  world  keeps  furious  carnival 
And  witch  winds  ride  atop  the  tossing  hills. 
She  dances,  slowly  at  first,  then  more  madly  with 
the  crescendo  of  music.     During  the  second  move 
ment  comes  a  knock  at  the  door.      She  stops  ab 
ruptly. 
Who  knocks? 

ZILLAH 

Perhaps  your  Ithomar,  philosopher. 
A  knock.     All  lean  expectantly  to  the  door 

MARY 

Who  knocks  ?     Go,  Shubab,  to  the  door. 
SHUBAB   opens   the  door.     Enter   DEBORAH,   an 
aged  woman  with  cavernous  eyes,  her  figure  and 
voice  shaken  by  palsy. 

There  is  a  start  of  surprise  and  a  movement  back 
ward  from  her. 

DEBORAH 

in  hollow  shaken  tones 
Servant  of  Ithomar  the  patriot, 
Unwilling  to  the  House  of  Shame  I  come. 
[216] 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

She  sees  her  daughter  AZUBAH,  and  her  voice 
breaks.  AZUBAH  shrinks  farthest  of  all  from  her. 
Azubah ! 

AZUBAH 

shrinking  to  MARY'S  side 
Mother! 
To  MARY. 
Save  me,  save  me  from  her. 

MARY 

That  parchment  piece,  written  upon  by  horror! 
She  hath  often  cursed  me  when  I  walked  abroad ; 
How  may  this  ancient  and  misshapen  tree, 
Azubah,  put  forth  such  a  flower  as  thou 
And  serve  that  son  of  beauty,  Ithomar  ? 

DEBORAH 
I  bear  a  message  for  him. 

MARY  running  to  her 

Happy  woman! 

Good  dame,  you  are  an  angel  messenger; 
Dear  crone,  will  he  come  hither  to  my  house  ? 

DEBORAH  drawing  away 

Nay,  touch  me  not,  accursed  loveliness ! 
The  word  I  bear  is  for,  not  from  my  master; 
One  told  me  he  had  passed  within  your  gate. 
[217] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MARY 

Then  out  upon  you,  out,  gray  spectre-thing, 
You  gaunt  and  shaken  evil-omening  thing. 

DEBORAH         her  voice  rising 
Yea,  verily,  I  will  out  with  full  content 
When  I  have  called  the  curse  of  heaven  upon  you. 
Harlot,  your  fingers  are  the  touch  of  death, 
Harlot,  your  feet  the  highway  unto  hell. 
What  if  I  was  the  old  misshapen  tree, 
I  bore  one  flower,  now  I  am  desolate; 
You  have  reft  me  of  my  sole,  my  cherished  flower, 
You  have  sown  its  petals  in  the  miry  streets 
Where  men  may  trample  it.     Azubah  child, 
My  child !     Nay,  never  any  more  at  all 
My  child  that  was,  but  lost  irreparably ! 

AZUBAH 
I  am  afraid ! 

As  DEBORAH  raises  her  trembling  finger  in  cursing 
MARY  draws  AZUBAH  to  her. 

MARY 

Not  her!  Ah,  curse  not  her! 

DEBORAH 

Both  you  and  her  and  her  and  you  again. 
Cursed  thou  shalt  be  when  thou  comest  in 
[218] 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

And  when  thou  goest  out,  accursed  be; 
In  hunger  and  in  thirst,  in  nakedness, 
In  want  of  all  things  shalt  thou  eat  the  dust, 
A  proverb  and  a  byword  and  a  sign : 
With  madness,  blindness,  violent  vexation, 
With  burning  and  astonishment  of  heart, 
The  sword  of  vengeance  of  Jehovah  smite  thee ! 
Exit  DEBORAH.     AZUBAH  faints  in  MARY'S  arms. 

MARY 

Look,  the  poor  soul,  she  faints  within  my  arms. 
The  men  lay  her  on  a  couch.     She  opens  her  eyes 
and  raises  herself. 

AZUBAH 
The  room  went  reeling.     Pardon  ye  my  weakness. 

MARY 

Now  let  us  drown  the  horror  of  that  voice, 
Obliterate  the  vision  of  that  presence. 
Musicians,  play;  harp,  cymbal,  tambourine. 

PHILIP 

Pouring  wine  as  the  music  begins  and  people  move 
about.     All  drink  and  laugh  hysterically. 
You,  too,  are  pale  beyond  your  wont.     Drink  this ; 
It  is  Falernian,  rich  with  Italy. 
[219] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY  takes  the  goblet. 

Do  you  not  taste  the  purple  of  Campagna  ? 

MARY  sips  and  dashes  the  goblet  down  so  that  it 

breaks. 

MARY 

I  taste — a  voice  of  blighting  and  of  vengeance ; 

I  taste — of  trembling  and  of  desolation. 

Why  do  you  stand  and  stare  like  images 

Of  stony-eyed  Egyptians  on  their  tombs  ? 

Dance  and  forget! 

AZUBAH  rouses  herself  to  join  in  the  dance  with 

ELON. 

All  dance 

MARY  stopping 

I  heard  a  sound,  a  knock. 
All  stop. 

Shubab,  the  door. 
He  goes  to  the  door. 

No  living  soul  is  there? 

It  was  the  blood  that  knocked  against  my  heart. 
They  dance   again.     She    keeps   looking   at  the 
statue. 

PHILIP 
What  see  you  there  between  the  marble  columns  ? 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

MARY 

pointing  to  the  statue 

It  follows  me  with  that  still  moonlight  smile, 
Like  one  who  hugs  a  terrible  calm  knowledge. 
She  goes  to  the  statue  impulsively  as  if  to  cast  it 
down.     PHILIP  and  ELON  restrain  her. 
I  will  grind  the  graven  image  into  powder; 
Who  says  It  is  my  image  ?     It  is  death, 
Blind  death,  the  pitiful  and  pitiless. 

AZUBAH 

I  have  seen  her  once  before  in  mood  like  this. 
There,  Zillah,  let  us  draw  the  Tyrian  curtain. 
They  draw  the  curtain,  concealing  the  statue  in  its 
niche. 

MARY 

to  PHILIP,  her  mood  swiftly  changing 
What  splendid  height,  O  Philip,  son  of  Herod, 
Like  some  tall  savage  sentinel,  elect 
To  guard  all  night  a  dead  king's  towering  tomb. 
She  measures  her  height  with  his. 
Where  do  I  come  against  this  noble  bulwark  ? 

PHILIP  embracing  her 

Unto  my  heart. 

[  221  ] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 

'Twas  gallantly  conceived; 
A  gallant  lie,  as  praise  is  wont  to  be. 
Taking  AZUBAH'S  hand  and  drawing  her  to  PHILIP. 
Little  Azubah  stands  beneath  your  arm, 
A  Syrian  dove  within  the  eagle's  wing — 
A  knock. 

Now  will  your  gallant  lie  become  half  truth — 
AZUBAH  looks  fondly  upon  PHILIP.     The  knock  is 
repeated.     Calmly: 
Shubab,  some  message. 
To  PHILIP: 

Do  not  frown  upon  her! 

PHILIP  with  self-conceit 
I  swear  she  loves  me  better  for  the  frown. 
SHUBAB  ushers  ITHOMAR  into  the  room.  ITHO- 
MAB  is  a  man  of  singular  beauty,  with  an  air  of 
deep  thought  and  aloofness.  He  is  followed  by 
his  servant,  who  removes  ITHOMAR'S  sandals  and 
hands  them  to  SHUBAB.  Exit,  with  low  obeisance, 
servant. 

SHUBAB 
'Tis  Ithomar,  the  son  of  Ithrael ! 

MARY 
My  welcome  to  you,  son  of  Ithrael ! 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

ITHOMAR 
Is  this  the  house  of  Mary? 

MARY 

Even  so; 

I  am  that  Mary  called  of  Magdala. 
Have  you  not  seen  me  on  the  streets  abroad, 
For  far  and  wide  I  am  known  in  Cesarea  ? 
Behold  these  gems  that  glitter  on  my  arms, 
And  on  my  brow,  thick  clustered  like  a  crown. 
There  is  no  other  woman  save  a  queen 
Who  shines  like  me. 

ITHOMAR 

I  walk  with  downcast  eyes, 
My  mistress  is  pure-lipped  Philosophy. 

MARY  laughing 

The  pity  of  it !    These  my  guests  do  greet  you : 
The  noble  Philip,  tetrarch,  governor. 
Azubah,  Zillah,  Elon,  all  your  slaves. 
All  salute  him. 

ITHOMAR  bowing 

You  do  me  honor. 

MARY  seats  herself  and  motions  him  to  sit  beside 
her.  He  sits  at  the  other  end  of  the  divan.  The 
guests  move  away  in  merry,  groups. 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 

What,  so  far  from  me  ? 
I  am  not  to  be  feared. 

ITHOMAR 

I  fear  all  women. 

MARY 

But  I  am  not  as  other  women  are. 
She  laughs. 

O  you  philosophers,  who  search  for  truth 
As  women  sweep  the  dust  up  from  the  floor, 
Gathering  into  one  vessel  tags  and  frays 
Of  earth's  diverse  material,  saying :  "  Dust ! " 

ITHOMAR 

It  is  a  woman's  quaint  comparison, 
Philosophers  and  sweepers  with  their  brooms ! 

MARY 

So  do  you  sweep  a  hundred  women  up 
Into  the  potter's  vessel  of  some  preconceived 
Shape  in  your  mind,  pronouncing,  "  This  is  Wom 
an!" 

ITHOMAR 
Nay,  I  have  never  known  a  hundred  women. 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

MARY 

If  you  had  said,  "  I  fear  not  other  women, 
But  you  I  f  ear,  O  Mary!"      .     .     .     See  that  girl! 
Her  head  turned  sideways  like  a  prying  sparrow! 
She  wonders  at  the  theme  of  our  discourse, 
She  is  the  placid  ox-like  kind  of  woman. 

ITHOMAR 
I  like  a  silent  woman. 

MARY 

You  shall  have  her. 

Silence  between  them,  while  in  another  part  of  the 
room  PHILIP  and  ELON  confidentially  converse. 

PHILIP 

This  most  objectionable  Ithomar, 
This  human  mildew  on  our  rosy  fruit, 
Requires  the  medicine  of  a  pruning  knife; 
They  say  he  is  a  fiery  patriot, 
Inflames  the  Sanhedrin  to  mutiny 

ELON 

A  casual  mischance  is  easier 
Than  cumbersome  intrigue  of  polity; 
A  scuffle,  a  street  affray,  removes  a  man; 
The  blame  uncertain 

[JW6] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

PHILIP 

And  your  point  most  clear. 
I  send  two  fellows  primed  with  certain  sneers; 
At  a  certain  place  they  meet  a  certain  man — 
Some  fine  Rabbinical  dispute  ensues, 
Waxing  more  gross  with  argument  of  fists 
Until  a  fray  is  ripe ;  a  passer-by 
— It  might  be  Elon — claps  to  bring  the  guard; 
A  certain  most  objectionable  man 
Is  haled  to  prison  without  more  ado. 

ELON 
But  Ithomar  is  much  reputed  here. 

PHILIP 
Incendiary  patriot! 

ELON 
It  is  true. 

PHILIP 

His  friends  in  friendliness  will  raise  no  cry 
For  fear  of  worse  if  Caesar  is  aroused 
To  knowledge  of  him.     Then  we  understand  ? 

MARY  rising 

In  such  a  chattering  crowd  of  noisy  sparrows 
There  is  not  peace  for  thoughts  to  pass  between. 
Zillah,  Azubah,  lead  our  friends  to  supper. 

[  226  ] 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 
AZUBAH 


Will  you  not  come  ? 


MARY 
We  join  you  presently. 


ZILLAH    with  biting  raillery 
Pray  you,  be  merciful  to  Ithomar; 
Bread  is  the  best  boon  to  a  hungry  man. 

PHILIP  sneeringly 

But  Ithomar  is  a  philosopher. 
Exeunt  all,  1  E  L. 

MARY 

Now  you  shall  have  your  silent,  ox-like  woman, 
The  big-eyed,  sluggish,  sleepy-lidded  creature. 
You  doubt  it  ?     I  could  sit  for  hours,  I  swear, 
Upon  this  cushion  with  my  feet  crossed  so, 
My  hands  like  this,  folded  upon  my  lap, 
As  dumb-lipped  as  the  golden  cherubim. 
Do  you  not  like  it  ? 

ITHOMAR 
What? 

MARY 

The  silent  woman. 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ITHOMAE 
You  have  not  shown  me  yet. 

MARY 

Now  I  begin. 

A  minute  or  two  of  silence  during  which  ITHOMAR 
sits  looking  toward  MARY  but  absorbed  in  thought. 
MARY  crosses  and  uncrosses  her  feet.  A  burst  of 
laughter  from  the  other  room.  ZILLAH  and  ELON 
come  to  the  door. 

ZILLAH  to  ELON 

They  sit  like  stones. 

To  MARY: 

What,  still  so  far  from  him  ? 
Exeunt  and  a  burst  of  laughter  following  their  re 
turn  to  the  other  room.     ITHOMAR  rises  and  walks 
to  the  R  E. 

MAEY 

rising  and  following 
You  are  not  leaving — leaving  me — alone  ? 
I  have — I  have — (my  heart  crowds  fast  my  utter 
ance) 

I  have  a  thousand  themes  of  converse  with  you — 
And  yet  I  liked  you,  wrapped  in  silence  there, 
A  prophet's  robe,  invisible,  austere. 
I  liked  you,  Ithomar.     .    .    .    What  did  you  say  ? 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

ITHOMAR 
I  did  not  speak. 

MARY 

I  thought  I  heard  you  say 
You  liked  me  in  my  marble-smiling  silence. 
They  tell  me  I  am  sculptured  in  such  lines 
As  those  god- women  of  the  gentile  Greeks. 
I  thought  I  heard  you  say  you  liked  my  speech 
Even  better  than  my  marble-smiling  silence. 
Confess,  did  not  your  heart  say  this  ? 

ITHOMAE 

No,  Mary. 

I  have  no  heart  for  you  or — other  women. 
Farewell. 

MARY 

I  will  not  brook  it,  Ithomar. 
You  are  a  lover  of  the  beautiful. 
Behind  that  Tyrian  stuff  there  is  a  block 
Of  marble,  sculptured  to  a  certain  shape 
Your  eyes  would  fain  behold. 

He  goes  to  it. 

Patience  awhile. 

You  would  not  be  the  schoolboy  at  the  feast, 
Snatching  his  fig  or  cake,  off  like  an  arrow. 
Why  did  you  come  if  you  must  straightway  go  ? 
[  229  1 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ITHOMAR 

I  came — to  pass  away  an  idle  hour; 
I  came — to  leave  you  and  philosophize; 
I  come  and — go,  a  sage  philosopher. 

MARY 

You  came,  you  shall  not  go  philosopher. 
A  snatch  of  voices  and  laughter  from  the  other  room. 
Hark,  here  is  love  and  laughter,  song  and  wine, 
And  woman,  woman  suing  at  your  feet. 
Are  you  not  moved  by  woman,  Ithomar  ? 

ITHOMAR 

Once  I  was  moved  by  woman,  long  ago; 
'Twas  long  ago. 

MARY 

You  have  a  carven  vase 

Worshipped,  I  vow,  for  some  sweet  woman's  sake. 
During  the  speech  of  MARY'S,  ITHOMAR  advances 
to  the  niche  and  finally  is  about  to  draw  the  cur 
tains  when  she  restrains  him. 

ITHOMAR 

What  do  you  mean  ? 

MARY 

That  alabaster  vase 

Housed  in  a  shrine  apart.     Bring  it  to  me 
[230] 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

And  I  will  give  you  breathing  living  beauty. 
Were  not  a  woman  better  than  a  stone  ? 
The  vase  would  crown  that  statue's  pedestal — 
(Patience  awhile  and  I  will  draw  the  veil) 
And  you  would  set  some  girl  within  your  shrine. 

ITHOMAR 

Smiling,  to  draw  her  on,  wondering,  half-guessing 
her  meaning. 
What  girl? 

MARY 

Azubah,  Zillah,  many  a  woman, 
Would  worship  even  the  ground  on  which  you 

walk 
For  the  brief  guerdon  of  your  smile  or  kiss. 

ITHOMAR 

withstanding  her  allurement 
I  know  not  how  to  kiss. 

MARY 

Let  me  be  teacher; 

Taste  of  my  lips  and  you  will  soon  forget 
The  barren  bosom  of  philosophy.     .     . 
Sudden  veer  of  tone. 
You  madden  me  with  that  far  gaze  of  yours. 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

You  look  at  me  as  through  an  open  gate, 
Seeing  beyond  a  vision  shut  from  me. 
You  madden  me  with  that  pale  cheek  of  yours. 
Why  have  you  come  to  vex  my  peace  of  mind  ? 

ITHOMAR 

Why  have  you  bid  me  come  ? 

A    pause  during  which  several  purposes  in  turn 

are  reflected  on  her  face. 

MARY 

Because — I  love  you. 

ITHOMAR 

You  love  me !    What  a  honey-trap  you  set 
To  snare  our  rainbow  boylets  on  the  wing ; 
I  am  no  long-billed  humming-bird  like  Elon. 
Do  women  such  as  you  know  how  to  love  ? 

MARY 

Oft  have  I  marked  you  in  our  Cesarea, 
With  that  uplifted  solitary  mien, 
Like  one  of  those  great  prophets  of  our  race, 
Wild  Hosea  or  flaming  Jeremiah. 
Oft  have  I  marked  you,  saying  in  mine  heart, 
"  Bow  down,  O  Mary,  to  your  chosen  lord.  " 
Master,  be  merciful  unto  your  own. 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

ITHOMAR 

Remain  one  moment  in  that  perfect  poise. 
Now  lift  your  head  and  look  at  me — like  that. 
Men  speak  the  truth  that  you  are  beautiful. 

MARY 
If  I  am  beautiful  to  you,  enough. 

ITHOMAR 

advancing  to  the  concealed  statue 
You  have  enchanted  me  to  stay  too  long; 
Before  we  part,  show  me  your  sculptured  image, 
For  sculpture  pleases  my  philosophy; 
Beauty  remote  and  pale  and  visionary, 
Conceits  of  handicraft,  dreams  of  the  mind, 
Images  all,  people  my  soul's  demesne; 
I  have  done  long  since  with  sharp  reality. 
Before  we  part  show  me  your  sculptured  image, 
Thus  you  may  live  in  marble  memory. 

MARY          with  fierce  scorn 
May  live  in  marble  memory,  Ithomar, 
When    I   would   live  and    breathe   within  your 

arms! 

Are  you  a  stone  in  semblance  of  a  man  ? 
[233] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

ITHOMAE 

bantering  gracefully 

Show  me  the  sculptured  image  and  mayhap 
Its  pictured  loveliness  may  melt  the  stone. 
Then  seriously: 

I  have  made  a  vow   which   must   not   be   for 
sworn  ; 
I  keep  a  tryst  to-night. 

MARY 
in  disbelief  then  with  many  varying  emotions 

A  tryst  you  keep! 

Who  is  this  other  woman,  you  that  plead 
You  never  look  on  woman,  who  is  she  ? 
Is  she  a  student  of  "  philosophy, " 
Scowling  on  parchment  scrolls  and  cryptic  speech  ? 
Oh,  I  can  fancy  her  with  eyebrows  bent 
And  thin  lips  drawn;  or  is  she  some  young  girl, 
A  folded  bud  of  virtue  with  shy  lids 
Drooping  upon  her  baby  damask  cheek  ? 
Has  she  deep  eyes  that  melt  into  your  own 
And  arms  that  cling  like  this,  like  this,  my  lord  ? 
Hush,  I  will  show  to  you  the  sculptured  image: 
Behold  it  and  then  say,  "I  keep  a  tryst, 
A  tryst  to-night  with  Mary  Magdalen.  " 
She  draws  the  curtain  and  shows  the  statue.     ITHO- 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

MAR,  regarding  it  in  silence,  seems  deeply  moved, 
turns  away. 

ITHOMAR 

with  strange  earnestness 
I  see  another  woman  sculptured  here. 
God  of  my  race,  it  is  beyond  belief ! 
The  well-remembered  posture  of  the  hand, 
The  blithesome  brow,  the  soft  elusive  smile — 
Oh,  that  lost  springtime  in  the  isle  of  Rhodes ! 

MARY 

Whose  likeness  do  you  see  ? 

ITHOMAR 

Sacred  her  name. 

MARY 

It  is  that  other  woman,  I  know,  I  know ! 
Enter  softly  and  smoothly  the  servant  0}  ITHOMAR, 
a  bland  and  dutiful  creature. 

SERVANT 

My  master! 
Both  turn. 

Ithomar,  the  hour  draws  nigh. 

ITHOMAR 

Where  is  the  appointed  place  ? 
[235  ] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

SERVANT 

Bethesda's  pool. 

ITHOMAE 
I  will  make  haste. 

To  MARY: 

Farewell. 
He  turns  to  go. 

MARY 

You  shall  not  go! 

One  moment  stay,  my  master  and  my  lord ! 
Exit  ITHOMAR.     To  the  servant: 
Whom  has  he  gone  to  meet,  your  Ithomar  ? 
Mary  of  Magdala,  I,  command  you  speak ! 

SERVANT  blandly 

The  business  of  the  servant  is  to  serve. 
My  master  comes  and  goes  and  says  his  say; 
I,  having  eyes,  see  not,  and  having  ears, 
Hear  not,  and  having  lips,  am  dumb. 
The  business  of  the  servant  is  to  serve. 
Exit  Servant,  R,  with  elaborate  bow. 

MARY 

after  a  moment's  pause 

I  will  after  him  and  wrest  the  secret  from  him. 
Exit  MARY,  R,  and  enter  PHILIP  and  ELON,  drunk 
and  excited,  irom  L. 

[266] 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

PHILIP 
She's  mine,  she's  mine. 

ELON 
Nay,  I  have  bought  her  from  you. 

PHILIP 
You  drunken  fool,  she's  mine. 

ELON 

Mary  is  yours, 
Worth  a  whole  netful  of  these  lesser  minnows. 

PHILIP 
I'll  have  them  all. 

ELON 

Azubah  shall  be  mine. 

PHILIP 
We'll  play  at  dice  for  her. 

ELON 

approaching,  with  PHILIP,  to  the  table 

So  be  it,  then. 
They  shake  the  cups. 

PHILIP 
I  first! 
He  throws. 

The  furies  take  it. 
[237] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ELON  throwing 

Luck  be  mine ! 
The  unlucky  throw  again.     A  tie. 

PHILIP 

Once  more. 

His  throw  turns  up  the  highest  number. 
It's  Aphrodite! 

ELON 

after  this,  his  second  throw 
Pssh,  I  get  the  dog! 

PHILIP 

She's  mine,  by  Aphrodite! 
AZUBAH  appears  at  L. 

AZUBAH  lightly 

Wrangling  still? 
What  sly  design  are  you  two  scheming  at  ? 

PHILIP 

Congratulate  me.     I  have  won  at  dice. 
Exeunt  L.     Enter,  n,  MARY. 

MARY 

His  soul's  desire !     Beside  Bethesda's  pool  I 
His  soul's  desire,  the  woman  of  the  statue ! 


ACT     ONE:     SCENE     ONE 

The  spirit  Zaxus  hid  within  the  statue ! 
It  was  not  I,  It  was  a  stranger  soul ; 
It  mocked  me  with  a  semblance  of  myself; 
Even  while  I  danced  It  followed,  mocking  me 
With  that  strange  moonlight  smile  I  never  wore. 
She  approaches  the  statue,  hurling  fiercely  words 
at  it. 

At  last  I  see  my  look  fade  utterly 
From  out  your  face;  a  naked  lie  you  stand, 
Tricking  him  with  some  charm  of  memory, 
Luring  him  from  me  with  that  moonlight  smile. 
I  hate  you,  hate  you,  hate  you,  other  woman! 
As  she  enters  the  alcove  she  pulls  the  curtain  be 
hind  her  so  that  she  remains  unseen  while  her 
voice  is  heard. 

Do  you  deem  that  you  shall  trample  out  my  life, 
Moveless  and  wordless  marble  necromancer  ? 
Lie  there  and  there  and  there !     Lie  in  the  dust ! 
The  crash  of  the  statue  is  heard.  All  rush  in  from 
the  other  room. 

ZILLAH 
I  heard  a  crash. 

ELON 

Something  has  fallen. 
[239] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

AZUBAH 
Drawing  the  curtain. 

Ah  look! 

MARY  is  shown,  kneeling,  with  her  head  on  the 
pedestal,  the  statue  in  fragments  about  her. 

PHILIP       trying  to  raise  her 
What  foul  mischance  befell  the  marble  statue  ? 
Small  wonder  that  she  grieves  the  broken  statue. 

ZILLAH  acridly 

What  ample  room  for  vase  of  Ithomar ! 

MARY 
You  speak  the  truth. 

To  all. 

Forget  not  ye  of  my  feast! 

ALL 
The  feast,  the  feast,  the  triumph  of  the  vase. 

MARY 

Bring  me  my  veil,  my  cloak,  Azubah  girl. 
She  goes  to  the  table  and  pours  herself  a  cup  of  wine. 
Drink  to  the  road !     This  night  I  make  a  journey. 
She  lifts  the  cup. 

CURTAIN 

END  OF  ACT  I 
[240] 


ACT  II 

SCENE:  The  pool  of  Bethesda  in  a  bleak  and  deso 
late  country  without  the  wall.     Stone  steps  lead 
down  to  the  water's  edge. 
Late  afternoon. 

DISCOVERED — A  group  of  maimed  and  impotent 
folk  gathered  about  the  pool,  waiting  for  the  troub 
ling  of  the  waters.  Among  them  are  DEBORAH, 
the  palsied  woman;  SIMEON,  a  blind  man;  BA- 
RUCH,  a  humpback;  JOANNA,  a  placid  middle-aged 
woman;  and  RACHEL,  a  wistful  child. 

SIMEON 

There's  a  burning  in  my  eyes,  as  if  a  thousand 
little  ants  were  eating  them.  I  half  believe 
it's  ants  that  trouble  them.  When  the  blind 
ness  first  swam  over  me — it  was  on  the  thresh 
ing-floor  of  Naaman  the  son  of 

JOANNA 

Peace,  Simeon,  we  have  heard  the  story  a  hundred 
times. 

[241] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

BARUCH 

Joanna,  you  are  a  comfortable  body  to  stop  poor 
Simeon's  mouth. 

JOANNA 

It  is  not  only  folks  as  looks  puny  and  wears 
bunches  that  has  the  right  to  claim  sickness. 
I  am  taken  many  a  time  with  dizzy  spells  so 
that  I  like  to  fall  on  the  floor,  all  a-heap.  It's 
the  dyestuffs  I  am  always  working  in  that  go 
to  the  head  of  me. 

DEBORAH 
Little  Rachel,  you  are  silent,  what  is  your  plaint  ? 

RACHEL 

I  have  no  plaint.  I  am  only  waiting  for  the  spirit 
to  come  and  vex  the  water,  and  then  we  shall 
all  be  well. 

SIMEON 

Who  is  speaking  ?  It  sounds  like  a  child's  voice. 
Who  are  you  ? 

RACHEL 
I  am  Rachel. 

SIMEON 

Why  are  you  here  with  us  old  impotent  folk? 
Come  here  and  let  me  put  my  hand  upon 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

your  head.     You  are  a  child.     You  ought  to 
be  running  and  dancing. 

RACHEL 

But  I  am  lame,  I  cannot  come  to  you.     I  don't 
know  how  to  run  and  dance. 

JOANNA 
She  is  my  sister's  child.     She  speaks  the  truth. 

SIMEON 

Poor  lamb,  I  am  sorry  for  you.     I  would  give 
you  my  sound  legs. 

RACHEL 

I  would  give  you  my  good  eyes  and  then  you 
could  see.     It  is  sad  to  be  blind. 

BARUCH 

Look,  look,  there's  a  ripple  in  the  pool  where  all 
was  still. 

DEBORAH 

The  Spirit! 

All  clamber  down  to  the  lowest  step  ready  to  dip 

their  feet.     RACHEL,  forgotten,  is  left  behind. 

RACHEL 
I  am  left  alone. 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

BARUCH 
Be  very  still. 

DEBORAH 
Watch!  Listen! 

JOANNA 

It  is  nothing,  Baruch.    The  Spirit  has  gone  again. 
All  climb  back  to  their  original  places. 

SIMEON 
Where  is  Rachel  ? 

RACHEL 
I  am  here.  I  have  not  stirred. 

JOANNA 
We  all  forgot  you. 

RACHEL 

Simeon,  how  can  you  see  so  well  to  get  down  to 
the  water's  edge  when  you  are  blind  ? 

SIMEON 

Child,  I  have  travelled  this  path  for  twice  your 
years. 

RACHEL 
And  all  that  time  the  Spirit  did  not  come !  Alas ! 

SIMEON 

Yes,  the  Spirit  came,  but  on  those  days  when  I 
kept  the  house. 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

BARUCH 

That's  always  the  way  of  life.  Stay  at  home  and 
everything  happens  abroad.  Go  out,  and  no 
good  thing  comes  near  you. 

SIMEON 
I  hear  some  one  walking. 

JOANNA 
There's  no  one  by  but  us. 

SIMEON 
I  hear  some  one  walking. 

RACHEL 

I  see  her,  a  very  beautiful  lady. 
Enter,  B,  MARY. 

JOANNA 

Now  she  will  purse  her  mouth  and  now  she  will 
draw  up  her  fine  raiment 

BARUCH 
And  pass  on  the  other  side  of  the  street. 

RACHEL 
She  is  standing  still. 

MARY 

Is  this  the  pool  of  Bethesda  ? 
[245] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

JOANNA 
It  is  the  pool  of  Bethesda. 

MARY 

Who  are  ye  ? 
Silence. 

BARUCH  to  JOANNA 

Answer  her. 

JOANNA 
She  says:  "Who  are  we?" 

SIMEON 
Who  are  we? 

JOANNA  to  MARY 

We  are  what  you  see  with  your  eyes. 

RACHEL 

We  are  poor  impotent  folk,  the  halt  and  withered 
and  blind. 

MARY 

What  do  ye  here  ? 
Silence. 

BARUCH  to  JOANNA 

Answer  her. 

JOANNA 

She  says :  "  What  do  we  here  ?  " 
[246] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

SIMEON 
What  do  we  here  ? 

DEBORAH 

not  having  looked  at  MARY 
Why  does  she  want  to  know  ? 

MARY 

What  do  ye  here  ? 

JOANNA 
We  do  what  you  see  with  your  eyes. 

RACHEL 

We  are  waiting  for  the  troubling  of  the  waters, 
when  we  shall  go  down  into  the  pool  and  be 
healed  of  all  our  sickness. 

JOANNA 

The  Spirit,  the  Spirit! 
All  watch  intently  in  attitudes  of  readiness. 

DEBORAH 

It  came — and  went  again.  There  was  something 
troubled  it 

SIMEON 
Who  is  that  strange  woman,  Joanna  ? 

JOANNA  to  MARY 

Yes,  who  are  you  ? 

DEBORAH  turns  for  the  first  time  to  look  at  MARY. 
[247] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

DEBORAH 

Who  are  you  with  your  bracelets  and  your  wim 
ples, 

Your  purple  and  your  scarlet  and  fine  linen  ? 
I  know  you,  you  embroidered  harlotry; 
'Tis  you  have  vexed  the  Spirit  of  the  pool, 
You  have  vexed  him  with  the  perfume  of  your  feet, 
The  delicate  odor  of  your  abomination. 

JOANNA 
Who  is  she? 

BARUCH 

Who  is  she  ? 

SIMEON 
How  still  she  stands ! 

DEBORAH 

She  is  that  Mary,  called  of  Magdala. 
She  has  driven  away  salvation  from  Bethesda. 

BARUCH 
Leave  us  alone,  O  Mary  Magdalen. 

JOANNA 
I  pray  you,  quickly  go ! 

SIMEON 
How  still  she  stands ! 

[248] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

ALL 
Go,  go,  accursed  woman,  Magdalen. 

MARY 

How  dare  you,  maimed  and  halt  and  impotent  folk, 
How  dare  you  vent  such  insolence  on  me  ? 
Withered  old  women,  humps  of  hideous  men, 
Knotted  and  gnarled  and  crouched  like  stumps  or 

stones ! 

I  would  pity  you  if  you  were  fit  for  pity; 
What  right  have  you  to  strow  the  public  way, 
Blotching  it  with  your  ragged  shreds  of  bodies  ? 
Here,  take  the  gold  I  throw  you  and  begone. 
She  scatters  gold  to  them. 

ALL 

Nay,  touch  us  not!    Keep  off,  for  you  are  evil. 
They  scatter  to  go,  all  but  RACHEL 

JOANNA 
We  will  not  touch  her  gold,  for  it  is  evil. 

SIMEON 

Lead  me  away  from  her,  for  she  is  evil. 
Exeunt  all.     RACHEL  puts  out  her  hands,  crying 
after  them. 

MARY 
Why  do  you  cry  here,  trembling  like  a  leaf, 

[  249  ] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

With  that  sheet  face  of  yours  and  those  bright 
eyes? 

RACHEL 
I  am  afraid  because  they  called  you  evil. 

MARY 

Up,  then,  and  run,  you  little  peaked  thing ! 
Run  from  the  evil  enchantment  of  my  eyes. 
She  approaches  RACHEL  with  vehement  gesture. 

RACHEL  pleadingly 

Lady,  I  cannot  run. 

MARY 

You  cannot  run  ? 

RACHEL 

I  can  just  walk — like  this.     It  hurts  me,  lady, 
For  I  am  lame. 

MARY 

Poor  little  frightened  one! 
I  am  sorry,  I  am  very  sorry  for  you; 
Will  you  forgive  me  ? 

RACHEL 

Yes,  but  do  not  touch  me. 

MARY 
You  fear  me  ? 

[250] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

RACHEL 
For  they  said  that  you  were  evil. 

MARY 

They  shuddered  at  me,  all  those  halt  and  blind. 
Am  I  abominable  in  your  eyes  ? 

RACHEL 
Lady,  I  think  that  you  are  like  an  angel. 

MARY 
Dear  Rachel !     But  my  soul  is  sick  within. 

RACHEL 

Here  let  us  wait  together  by  the  pool 

And  when  the  Spirit  comes  we  shall  be  cured. 

MARY 

Long  have  you  waited  by  Bethesda's  pool  ? 

RACHEL 

I  have  waited  long,  but  when  the  cry  goes  up 
They  all  step  down  before  me  to  the  waters 
In  eager  haste  and  Rachel  is  forgotten. 

MARY  lifting  her 

I  will  carry  you,  dear  child,  within  my  arms; 
You  shall  not  be  forgotten  any  more. 
What  a  little  weight  you  are  within  my  arms ! 

[  251  ] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

She  puts  her  down. 

It  were  a  blessed  pool  to  cure  your  body. 

Ah  me ! 

RACHEL 
Why  are  you  sad  ? 

MARY 

I,  too,  am  sick. 

Would  that  there  were  some  waters  of  Bethesda 
To  wash  away  the  anguish  of  the  soul ! 

RACHEL 

There  is  a  Stranger  here  in  Cesarea 
Who  cures  men's  souls,  I  heard  Joanna  say. 
He  has  a  face  that  shineth  like  a  star 
And  little  children  love  to  follow  Him — 
You  are  not  listening! 

MARY 

No,  I  cannot  listen 

To  childish  babble  when  my  heart  is  faint. 
Rachel,  do  you  know  one  named  Ithomar  ? 

RACHEL 

Ithomar,  ever  smiling  with  sad  eyes ! 
I  know  him. 

MARY 

Have  you  seen  him  here  this  eve  3 
[252] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

RACHEL 
He  will  come  here  beside  this  quiet  pool. 

MARY 

Soon  he  will  come  ?     O,  foolish  heart  of  mine, 
Be  still !    What  woman,  Rachel,  will  he  meet  ? 
Surely  among  these  halt  and  maimed  and  blind 
Ithomar  does  not  seek  his  heart's  desire ! 
Who  is  the  woman  of  the  trysting-place  ? 

RACHEL 
I  fear  you  now  with  that  uplifted  hand. 

MARY 

Child,  speak  the  truth  or  I  will  wring  it  from  you. 
No,  no,  I  do  not  wish  to  be  so  fierce ; 
Child,  lay  your  little  hand  against  my  heart 
And  feel  its  furious  pace ;  now  answer  me ! 
Who  is  the  person  of  his  pledge  to-night  ? 

RACHEL 
I,  Rachel,  am  the  person  of  his  pledge. 

MARY 
With  you  and  with  none  other? 

RACHEL 

Yes,  with  me, 

For  I  can  tell  him  what  he  craves  to  know. 
[253] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 
His  heart's  desire,  the  thing  he  craves  to  know ! 

RACHEL 

He  craves  to  know  where  Jesus  bides  to-night, 
The  shining  Stranger  who  is  Jesus  Christ. 
Ithomar  craves  to  follow  Him  to-night, 
And  hear  His  words,  it  may  be  speak  with  Him; 
This  is  the  news  I  hold  for  Ithomar. 

MARY 

The  shining  Stranger  who  is  Jesus  Christ ! 
Verily,  I  have  never  heard  of  Him. 

RACHEL 
Mary,  do  you  desire  to  speak  with  Him  ? 

MARY 
With  whom? 

RACHEL 
With  Jesus  Christ,  that  shining  One! 

MARY 

Child,  chatter  not  of  one  unknown  to  me. 
Enter  ITHOMAR,  L. 
Ithomar ! 
She  springs  up. 
By  what  happy  chance  we  meet ! 

[254] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

ITHOMAR 

If  that  be  chance  which  seems  determination. 
Rachel,  what  is  the  word  ? 

RACHEL 

Sir,  He  will  bide 
At  Simeon's  house  to-night  beyond  the  gate. 

MARY 

You  are  cheating  me  with  falseness,  you  and  she. 
You  go  to  meet  some  drooping  lily  girl — 
Nay,  nay,  you  wear  the  brow  of  stainless  truth; 
Linger  a  while  and  let  me  learn  from  you 
A  little  of  this  great  philosophy, 
I  the  disciple,  sitting  at  your  feet, 
And  you  the  rabbi,  reverend,  inspired. 

RACHEL 
Sir,  He  will  bide  at  Simeon's  house  to-night. 

MARY 

And  then  when  dark  steals  on  us  from  the  hills 
We  will  walk  homeward  slowly  to  my  house, 
Captives  of  love  within  his  golden  leash. 

RACHEL 

Sir,  He  will  bide  beyond  the  gate  to-night. 
[255] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ITHOMAR 

Mary  of  Magdala,  save  your  golden  leash 
For  Philip  and  the  silken  slaves  of  Rome. 
Waste  not  your  lures  on  one  who  loves  them  not, 
Who  seeks  to  solve  the  question  of  the  world. 
He  begins  to  go  out,  R. 

RACHEL 

I  pray  you,  let  me  walk  and  hold  your  hand 
Until  we  reach  my  house. 

ITHOMAR  lifting  her 

Is  this  not  better  ? 
Exeunt,  R,  ITHOMAR  and  RACHEL. 

MARY 

Gone !  lured  by  a  limping,  lisping  child ! 
Gone !  led  by  the  crooked  finger  of  a  question ! 
Blindfolded  by  vagaries  of  a  rabbi  ? 
'Tis  too  fantastic-foolish  to  be  real. 
He  makes  a  secret  tryst  with  some  fair  woman, 
And  shall  I  wait  while  he  beyond  the  walls 
Toys  with  the  tresses  of  that  drooping  girl  ? 
Yes,  I  will  wait,  with  vengeance  fierce  and  sudden, 
To  quench  that  dreamy  smile  upon  his  face 
And  smother  his  last  speech  upon  my  lips 
With  the  mortal,  cruel  kiss  of  expiation. 
[256] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

Enter,  L,  DATHAN  and  JUDE,  two  skulking  and 
low-browed  fellows. 

DATHAN 
Here's  the  appointed  spot. 

JUDE 
The  man's  not  here. 

DATHAN 
There's  a  woman  yonder. 

JUDE 

What  of  the  woman  ?  We  are  late  in  getting  to 
our  business  and  shall  miss  our  reward. 

DATHAN 
Good  woman,  what  do  you  know  of  one  Ithomar  ? 

MARY  turning 

I  know  little  of  him  and  that  little  not  good. 

JUDE 

She  is  the  mettle  for  us.  She  will  give  us  the 
scent. 

DATHAN 

Yet  it  is  wise  to  speak  dissembling.  Woman,  we 
are  friends  to  Ithomar  and  heard  he  passed 
this  way. 

[  257  ] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MARY 

You  have  scarcely  the  looks  of  gentle  philosophers, 
friends  to  Ithomar.  You  are  more  like 
money-lenders  or  scurvy  scribes. 

DATHAN 
So  please  you,  we  have  business  with  him. 

MARY 

There  is  a  stealthy  flavor  to  your  word  "  business  " 
that  smacks  ill  for  Ithomar.  The  business 
that  prospers  best  when  lights  are  out  and 
good  wives  abed.  If  your  business  is  of  that 
sort,  may  you  prosper  is  my  wish.  He  will 
get  no  more  than  his  deserts,  I  swear  to  it. 

JUDE 

Where  is  he,  then  ? 

MARY 

He  went  thither,  to  the  house  of  Simeon  beyond 
the  gate. 

DATHAN  to  JUDE 

One  of  these  jilted  creatures  she,  and  he,  a 
woman-hater! 

JUDE  to  MARY 

You  had  best  betake  yourself  hence. 
Exeunt  the  men. 

[258] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

MARY 

They  skulk  like  dogs  upon  a  carrion-track. 

It  seems  that  Ithomar  has  an  enemy 

And  these  the  creatures  sent  to  pay  his  debt. 

I  half  regret  to  share  their  hounding  him ; 

Rather  with  my  own  hands  to  pay  my  debt, 

Wipe  the  score  clean  with  one  stroke  of  the  sponge, 

Laughing  aloud,  "  Quits !    I  have  done  with  you. " 

Enter,  attended  by  officers,  PHILIP,  the  tetrarch, 

from  R. 

Philip,  O  hear  me! 

PHILIP  to  an  officer 

Pray,  who  is  this  woman  ? 

MARY 
Philip,  I  cry  for  justice !    Hear  me,  Philip ! 

PHILIP 

Philip  the  tetrarch  I,  I  deal  out  justice, 
Whether  in  Auranitis,  Trachonitis, 
In  rugged  Ituraea  or  Philippi — 
I  heed  the  cry  for  justice.     Woman,  speak! 

MARY 

O,  Philip,  tetrarch,  I  must  speak  alone, 
To  you  alone. 

[259] 


MARY    MAGDALEN 

PHILIP  to  his  followers 

Pass  on. 
Exeunt  followers. 

MARY 

in  the  hearing  of  the  guard 
Great  is  your  name 
In  wide-spread  Auranitis,  Trachonitis, 
In  rugged  Itursea  and  Philippi. 

PHILIP 

in  his  natural  tones 

Mary,  my  Syrian  goddess,  what  wild  errand 
Convoys  you  to  this  waste  ? 

MARY 

Revenge,  revenge! 

Revenge  me  on  this  insolent  Ithomar, 
This  lying  patriot  of  the  Sanhedrin. 

PHILIP 

What  freakish  wind  has  veered  the  rosy  flame 
So  lately  leaping  round  his  stony  shrine  ? 
Could  you  not  melt  him  with  your  Cyprian  fires  ? 

MARY 

It  was  a  pastime  that  has  turned  to  war. 
Crush  me  the  stone  to  fragments,  mighty  Philip. 
[260] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

PHILIP 

My  eager  deeds  have  run  before  your  wish ; 
Even  now  my  emissaries  lie  in  wait 
To  entangle  him  in  violent  dispute 
With  brawling  Sadducees  and  Pharisees. 

MARY 

They  were  your  creatures  then,  the  carrion  dogs. 
What  next  ? 

PHILIP 
The  spear  of  Rome  will  end  the  matter. 

MARY 

But  Ithomar  is  of  such  heroic  mould, 
'Tis  easier  said  than  done — to  prick  him  thus 
With  Roman  spear  of  common  sentinel. 

PHILIP 

What  would  you,  then  ?     Philip  is  at  your  service 
If  Mary  Magdala  will  pay  the  price. 

MARY  scornfully 

Mary  of  Magdala  does  not  beg  for  barter 
That  which  belongs  to  her,  O  Cesarean. 

PHILIP 

Mark,  I  will  serve  you,  not  as  Philip,  man, 
But  Philip,  head  of  Cesarea  Philippi. 
[  261  ] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

Ithomar,  as  you  know — deny  it  not — 
Inflames  the  Sanhedrin  with  mutinous  talk 
Against  the  imperial  mother-city,  Rome. 
Are  you,  too,  patriot,  that  you  turn  so  pale  ? 
We  have  the  knowledge  but  we  lack  the  proof. 
Entice  from  him  the  parchment  of  that  speech, 
Entrap  him  in  your  house — this  your  revenge, 
And  Roman  justice  for  the  malcontent. 

MARY 

Turn  traitor  to  my  people  to  entrap  him  ? 

PHILIP 
No  other  man  but  Ithomar  shall  suffer. 

MARY 

Promise  me,  Philip,  head  of  Cesarea. 

PHILIP 
I  swear,  and  you? 

MARY 

I  win  the  parchment  from  him, 
Before  to-morrow's  midnight  moon  swings  low. 
Set  watch  upon  the  dark  front  of  my  house, 
And  when  the  eastern  shutter  is  flung  wide 
To  shoot  a  stream  of  radiance  down  the  night 
Then  let  your  soldiers  spring  upon  their  prey. 
Dear  is  revenge  to  Mary  Magdala. 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

Enter  wearily  from  L,  CLEO,  a  pathetic  figure  of 
faded  beauty. 

PHILIP 

They  will  watch  the  signal  of  the  open  shutter. 
Dear  is  revenge  to  Philip,  Mary's  lover. 
Exit  PHILIP,  L. 

CLEO  hesitatingly 

Is  this,  perchance,  the  pool  they  call  Bethesda  ? 

MARY 

What  barren  wave  has  washed  this  remnant  up, 
The  wasted  ghost  of  immemorial  trysts  ? 

CLEO 

Forgive  me  if  I  syllable  amiss ; 

I  am  unlearned  in  your  Syrian  speech. 

Is  this,  perchance,  the  pool  they  call  Bethesda  ? 

MARY 

Mayhap  she  seeks  to  wash  away  her  sins 
Or  some  gray  sorrow  in  the  haunted  pool. 

CLEO 

I  am  a  stranger  to  this  Roman  province 
And  weary  from  long  journey  over-seas ; 
I  think  I  do  not  understand  your  words, 
Being  overwrought  and  sick  nigh  unto  death. 
She  leans  for  support  against  a  wall. 

[263] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 

Stranger  she  is  to  Cesarea  Philippi, 
A  wanderer  with  a  ripple  in  her  voice 
As  alien-wild  as  some  faint  voyaging  bird 
Who  lights  upon  a  mast  far  out  at  sea. 
Stranger,  what  do  you  seek,  or  whom  ? 

CLEO 

I  seek — 
I  seek  my  husband,  lost  to  me  long  since. 

MARY 

What  is  his  name  ? 

CLEO  hesitates,  and  then  an  expression  of  piteous 

terror  comes  to  her  face. 

CLEO 

Ah,  it  has  gone  from  me; 
I  have  forgot  his  name;  'tis  gone  from  me. 

MARY 
You  seek  your  husband,  knowing  not  his  name  ? 

CLEO 
Whither  does  this  road  lead? 

MARY 

Into  the  fields ; 

Only  two  houses  lie  beyond  the  gate. 

Go  back  to  shelter  and  to  sheltering  friends. 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

SHUBAB  enters  from  L  with  a  lantern  and  waits  for 
MARY.  •» 

CLEO 

I  have  no  shelter  and  no  sheltering  friends, 
My  husband  I  must  seek  until  I  die. 
Exit  CLEO,  L. 

MARY 

Now  what  poor  dusty  simpleton  was  this  ? 
Long  will  she  flutter  for  that  star  forbidden 
Until  she  beat  her  tattered  wings  to  ruin, 
A  hopeless  fragment  of  forgotten  beauty 
In  the  death-circle  of  some  deadly  lamp. 
Scuffle  and  voices  from  R.     Enter  JUDE,  DATHAN 
and  others  in  altercation  with  ITHOMAR,  who  holds 
himself  aloof.     They  crowd  against  him. 

ITHOMAR 
Back  from  me,  insolent  rabble! 

ELON  entering  R. 

The  guard,  the  guard! 

It  is  now  almost  dark.  He  claps  his  hands.  All 
scatter,  leaving  ITHOMAR  and  ELON  facing  each 
other  and  MART  leaning  against  the  wall,  her  veil 
drawn  about  her.  Enter  four  Soldiers,  L. 

[265] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ITHOMAR 

This  insolent  rabble  has  dogged  my  steps   to 
night. 

ELON 

This  man  molests  the  peace.     Arrest  him,  guard. 
MARY  steps  forward  and  points  to  ELON. 

MARY 

Here  is  the  man,  ring-leader  of  the  brawl. 
The  guard  lay  hands  upon  ELON. 

ELON 
I  do  protest! 

MARY 
A  dangerous  turbulent  fellow. 

FIRST    GUARD 

Lady,  he  will  not  trouble  you  again, 
We  have  bound  him  strongly. 

ELON      as  he  is  dragged  off 
I  appeal  to  Philip. 

Exeunt  Guards  and  ELON.     MARY  and  ITHOMAR 
look  at  each  other  in  silence. 

MARY  laughing 

Pray,  have  you  found  solution  for  your  question  ? 
[266] 


ACT     TWO:     SCENE     ONE 

ITHOMAR 
Philosophy  has  proved  a  surly  mistress. 

MARY 
'Tis  I  have  saved  you,  not  philosophy. 

ITHOMAR  tenderly 

'Tis  you  have  saved  me,  not  philosophy. 

MARY 

Did  not  the  Teacher  solve  the  riddle  for  you  ? 

ITHOMAR 

The  doctrine  of  the  Christ  is  too  austere; 
I  listened  and  went  sorrowing  away. 
'Tis  you  will  solve  my  riddle,  Magdalene. 
SHUBAB  precedes  them.     They  walk  away,  hand 
in  hand. 

MARY     lifting   the   lantern 
Mary  of  Magdala,  like  this  flame  endure, 
A  taunt,  a  challenge,  a  loveliness,  a  lure. 

CURTAIN 
END  OF  ACT  II 


[267] 


ACT  in 

SCENE  I:  MARY'S  House. 

DISCOVERED — PHILIP    and    ZILLAH,    parting 

at  door,  R. 

PHILIP 

Ithomar  visits  her  to-night,  you  say. 
And  has  she  won  from  him  the  manuscript  ? 
The  court  at  Antioch  must  needs  have  proof. 

ZILLAH 

I  think  that  he  has  sworn  to  bring  it  to  her. 
But  Philip,  Mary  half  repents  her  vow 
And  half  she  loves  him  while  she  lures  him  on; 
Strike  then  to-night  or  you  will  strike  too  late. 

PHILIP 
To-night.       Fling    wide    the    shutter    when    he 

comes. 

He  takes  the  gold  chain  from  his  neck  and  puts  it 
into  her  hand.     Exit. 

[268] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     ONE 

ZILLAH 

dangling  the  chain  as  she  crosses  to  L. 
I  wish  I  had  the  tetrarch  for  a  lover, 
With  such  gold  chains  to  throw  at  every  bush. 
Enter,  %  E  L,  MARY  and  AZUBAH. 

MARY 

You  smile  as  if  you  had  a  vision. 

ZILLAH 

I  had. 
Exit  ZILLAH,  1  E  L. 

AZUBAH 
My  blood  runs  fainter  when  she  smiles  like  that. 

MARY 

To  AZUBAH,  as  they  lie  together  on  the  cushions  of 
the  floor. 

Tell  me,  Azubah,  have  I  won  his  heart 
Or  loves  he  still  that  girl  of  long  ago, 
The  Rhodian  beauty  with  her  hair  of  gold, 
Whose  fleeting  likeness  lay  within  my  statue  ? 

AZUBAH 
Was  she  his  wife? 

MARY 

I  know  she  was  his  wife, 
And  that  they  sailed  together  from  her  isle 
[269] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

In  that  first  flush  of  youth  and  joy  and  love — 
Azubah,  what  would  love  like  theirs  be  like 
To  us  who  have  only  trod  the  scarlet  way  ? 
Think  you,  Azubah,  we  could  know  such  love 
As  blossoms  in  the  soul  of  snow  ? 

AZUBAH 

Would  God, 
Would  God  I  could  untread  the  scarlet  way! 

MARY 

But  the  great  God  who  leads  men  by  the  hand, 
Leads  some  to  peace  and  others  to  temptation. 
My  lot  was  sown  on  thorny  ground  and  hers, 
Golden-haired  Cleo  whom  he  made  his  wife, 
Was  hedged  about  with  flowers  of  quietness ; 
Let  Great  Jehovah  judge  between  us  two ! 
A  silence. 

AZUBAH 

They  sailed  away,  and  then  ? 

MARY 

The  ship  was  wrecked; 
The  wild  Ionian  gulf  went  over  her; 
Cleo  was  lost  and  Ithomar  returned, 
Gathered  from  bitter  salvage  of  the  sea, 

[270] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     ONE 

To  cherish  until  now  her  memory. 

I  did  not  dream  such  faith  was  left  in  man. 

AZUBAH 
And  you,  you  would  entice  him  to  forget? 

MARY 

I  love  him  better  than  my  life,  Azubah, 
And  that  was  long  ago. 

AZUBAH 

Has  he  forgot  ? 
MARY  does  not  answer  but  is  lost  in  thought. 

MARY 

Azubah,  there  shall  be  a  duel  this  night — 
Dead  Cleo  or  the  living  Magdalene. 
She  rises. 

Look,  I  will  wear  the  semblance  of  the  statue, 
Standing  all  still  upon  its  pedestal — 
She  goes  to  the  empty  pedestal,  followed  by  CLEO. 
The  light  is  dim  and  I  am  robed  in  white, 
And  these  white  roses  garlanding  my  brow, 
She  mounts  the  pedestal. 
Just  as  the  statue  when  he  burst  upon  me 
And  cried  out,  "  No,  it  is  beyond  belief, 
The  lifted  brow,  the  soft  elusive  smile — 
It  is  not  you,  O  Mary  Magdalen " 

[  271  ] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

AZUBAH 

arranging  her  drapery 
Ah,  now  you  seem  a  marble  moveless  thing. 

MARY 

I  hear  his  voice.     He  comes.     Azubah,  quick, 
Lift  up  these  folds  across  my  shoulder,  so ! 
A  knock,  two  short  raps,  characteristic  of  ITHOMAR. 
The  same  signal  was  given  in  Act  I. 
Azubah,  hush !    No  word  of  me  but  leave  us ! 
AZUBAH  goes  to  the  door  and  lets  in  ITHOMAR,  who 
removes  his  sandals  while  he  speaks. 

ITHOMAR                    gallantly 
Some  pretty  tale  is  lingering  in  your  eyes 

AZUBAH 

keeping  her  distance  from  him. 
You  wish  for  Mary  ? 

ITHOMAR 
What  a  shrewd  surmise. 

AZUBAH 

Bowing  as  she  retreats,  1  E  L. 
I  go  and  search  for  her. 
Exit  AZUBAH. 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     ONE 

ITHOMAB 

smiling  compassionately  at  himself 

Mad  Ithomar, 

Lo,  here  you  are  imbued  with  all  the  creeds, 
Inoculated  with  philosophy, 
The  woman-fever  riot  in  your  veins! 
A  whimsical  contagion  this,  wise  man ! 
As  he  moves  slowly  about  the  room  his  eyes   fall 
upon  the  figure  of  MARY,  statue-like  on  its  pedestal. 
.  .  .  How  marvellously  the  sculptor  fashioned  it, 
Prisoning  a  soul  within  the  insensate  stone, 
Binding  her  youth  to  immortality 
And  one  fleet  instant  to  eternity. 
.   .   .  Where  is  thy  likeness  gone,  my  Rhodian  girl, 
The  smile  of  thine  that  only  yestereve 
Hovered  about  the  marble  mouth  of  Mary  ? 
He  turns  from  the  figure,  as  if  addressing  another 
one 

Cleo,  I  cannot  now  bring  back  thy  face 
Across  the  long  stretch  of  the  dreary  years : 
Cleo,  forgive  me  if  I  do  forget. 
After  a  pause,  he  turns  to  MARY. 
Dead  Cleo,  or  the  living  Magdalene — 
MARY   starts. 

...  I  could  believe  that  her  miraculous  brow 
[273] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

Leaned  downward  like  the  moving  of  a  cloud. 

Mary  of  Magdala,  speak  with  those  pure  lips ! 

She  reaches  out  a  hand  to  him.     He  approaches 

her  slowly  as  if  in  fear. 

A  dream,  a  miracle,  an  insanity. 

As  he  touches  her  hand,  she  steps  down  from  the 

pedestal  and  goes  to  his  embrace. 

MARY 

A  dream,  a  miracle,  but  reality! 
Now  I  believe  you  love  me,  Ithomar, 
Me  and  none  other,  from  the  old  dead  past. 

ITHOMAR 

You  and  none  other,  Mary,  perfect  one! 
They  sit  together  on  cushions  by  a  low  table,  on 
which  is  a  brazier  of  burning  coals. 

MARY 
You  are  silent,  wrapped  away  from  me  in  silence. 

ITHOMAR 

There  is  no  need  of  speech  in  happiness, 
But  here  is  matter  if  we  must  converse, 
The  manuscript  that  you  have  raved  about; 
I  am  half  curious  at  your  eager  whimsy 
To  probe  the  dulness  of  the  Sanhedrin. 
[274] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     ONE 

He  pushes  the  MS.  to  her  across  the  table.     She 
shows  uneasiness. 

MARY 

My  people's  freedom  is  not  dull  discourse; 
Perhaps  I,  too,  am  patriot,  Ithomar. 
But  keep  the  manuscript  within  your  bosom. 
During  the  next  few  speeches  the  manuscript  is 
toyed  witht  pushed  back  and  forth  between  them. 

ITHOMAR 
No,  take  it  from  me. 

MARY 
No,  I  wish  it  not. 

ITHOMAR 
You  earnestly  besought  me. 

MARY 

Woman's  whimsy. 

ITHOMAR 

A  nobler  zeal  to  share  a  desperate  cause, 
I  do  believe. 
He  puts  the  parchment  into  her  hand. 

MARY  earnestly 

What  is  this  scroll  to  me  ? 

Pray  keep  the  tedious  thing  within  your  bosom. 
[275] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ITHOMAR 
"  Our  people's  freedom  is  not  dull  discourse. " 

MARY 

Forgive  me,  Ithomar,  my  mad  vagaries ; 
Verily,  I  desired  it  from  your  hands : 
And  now,  in  truth,  I  do  desire  it  not. 
A  woman's  fancy  is  inscrutable. 

ITHOMAR  resentfully 

You  mock  me  to  the  utmost  of  your  power, 
Beseeching  me  to  give  my  honor  to  you, 
And  playing  with  the  gift  in  feline  fashion. 
Was  not  the  alabaster  vase  enough  ? 

MARY 
The  vase  I  have  not  yet. 

ITHOMAR 

You  have  my  promise. 

MARY                             gently 
I  do  not  wish  to  rouse  your  wrath  against  me. 
Listen,  and  we  will  read  the  script  together: 
"  O  reverend  high-priest,  O  all  ye  elders ! " 

ITHOMAR 
Nay,  but  most  gently! 

[276] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     ONE 

MARY 

Is  there  danger  in  it  ? 

ITHOMAR 

Cried  out  upon  the  gates,  'twould  cost  my  life; 
"  Proscribed  for  mutiny  against  the  Caesar ! M 
Behold  my  trust  in  you ! 

MARY 

But  take  it  back. 
I  fear  to  hold  the  tool  of  your  proscription. 

ITHOMAR  jesting 

Nay,  read  it  to  me  in  your  woman's  voice. 
There  are  no  Roman  spies  in  ambuscade. 

MARY 

"  O  reverend  high-priest,  O  all  ye  elders ! " 

A  voice  is  heard  outside. 

VOICE 
Make  way! 

MARY 

dropping  the  parchment  on  the  table. 
Haste,  you  must  leave  me,  Ithomar. 
Some  one  is  at  my  door. 

ITHOMAR 

For  some  one  leave  you ! 
[277] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 
Go,  as  you  love  me,  go ! 

ITHOMAR 

How  desperate-earnest, 
All  for  a  casual  some  one  at  the  door! 

MARY 

It  is  my  mantle-maker,  such  a  gossip, 
She  chatters  like  the  swallow  in  the  eaves 
And  scatters  trouble  like  the  thistle  down. 

ITHOMAR  lightly 

I  fear  her,  Mary,  more  than  armed  men. 
A  knock  at  the  door. 

MARY 

pointing  to  2  E  L 

That  is  my  chamber  and  the  steps  lead  up 
Unto  the  roof  where  I  will  meet  you  soon. 
Exit  ITHOMAR,  2  E  L,  and  MARY  goes  to  R  and  ad 
mits  PHILIP.     She  salutes  him  formally  and  he 
kisses  her  hand,  endeavoring  at   the  same  time  to 
draw  her  to  him.     She  holds  herself  off. 

PHILIP  sneeringly 

Our  bargain  is  not  finished,  I  remember. 
[278] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

MARY 
Philip,  you  come  too  soon. 

PHILIP 

Not  soon  enough 
To  keep  pace  with  impetuous  desire. 

MARY 
What  is  your  wish  with  me,  O  Philip,  tetrarch  ? 

PHILIP  bitterly 

It  pleases  you  to-night  that  I  am  tetrarch, 
And  head  of  Cesarea  Philippi ; 
Philip  the  tetrarch,  eh,  not  Philip,  man  ? 
So  be  it,  and  obey  the  procurator; 
Where  is  that  insolent  seditionist, 
Ithomar  of  the  Jewish  Sanhedrin  ? 

MARY 
He  is  not  here. 

PHILIP 
You  speak  the  truth  to  me  ? 

MARY 

Was  it  not  I  that  laid  this  trap  for  him  ? 
Why  should  I,  then,  conceal  the  man  I  hate, 
Baffling  my  own  revenge  to  baffle  you  ? 
[279] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

PHILIP 


But  woman's  mind 


MARY 

My  mind  is  constant  still. 

PHILIP 

Where  is  the  scroll,  his  mutinous  harangue  ? 
MARY  moves  slightly  to  put  herself  between  him 
and  the  table  on  which  lies  the  scroll. 

MARY 

All  in  good  time  the  parchment  shall  be  given. 

PHILIP 

Inexorably  I  hold  you  to  your  pledge ; 
The  trap  was  yours  at  first,  now  also  mine; 
The  vengeance  yours  at  first,  now  also  mine. 
There  is  a  sound  in  the  adjoining  room,  2  E  L. 
MARY  glances  uneasily  in  that  direction  and  PHIL 
IP  follows  her  glance. 

Whether  you  love  or  scorn  this  Ithomar, 
Why  do  you  stare  so  strangely  at  that  portal  ? 
Whether  you  love  or  scorn  this  Ithomar, 
Who,  loved  or  scorned,  has  come  between  us  two, 
I  swear  that  he  shall  reap  the  penalty. 
Swear  to  me,  Mary ! 

[280] 


ACT    THREE:    SCENE    ONE 

MARY 

I  am  steadfast  still; 

The  man  I  hate  shall  reap  the  penalty ; 
To  him  I  love,  exceeding  great  reward. 
At  a  sound  in  the  adjoining  room  MARY  starts  and 
moves  to  protect  the  manuscript.     PHILIP  sees  it. 

PHILIP 

The  scroll  of  Ithomar  upon  the  table! 
I  have  proven  your  lie. 

MARY 

No,  it  is  not  the  scroll, 
The  speech  of  Ithomar.     It  is  another. 
As  they  fence  in  words  there  is  a  constant  play  of 
action  between  them,   PHILIP  insidiously   to    ap 
proach,  MARY  to  ward  him  from  the  table. 

PHILIP 

What  is  it  ? 

MARY 

A  flimsy  foreign  trifle — 
A  verse  that — Zaxus  penned. 
PHILIP 

Give  it  to  me. 
MARY 
No,  no. 

[281] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

PHILIP 

Ye  gods,  what  bold  effrontery! 
Have  it  I  will! 

He  springs  forward.  She,  with  as  sudden  a  mo 
tion,  takes  from  her  hair  the  dagger-like  pin,  and 
confronts  him  thus,  her  hair  falling  to  her  shoul 
ders. 

MARY 

Upon  this  dagger's  point! 

With  her  left  hand  she  feels  for  the  parchment,  to 
convey  it  stealthily  to  the  brazier.  Her  back  is  to 
the  table. 

PHILIP 
Ha,  you  would  murder  me! 

MARY 

You  and  myself, 
To  save  my  people  and  my  people's  friend. 

PHILIP 

To  save  your  lover! 
He  threatens  to  attack  her. 

MARY 

Philip,  O  beware! 
Consider  how  the  Roman  world  would  flout 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     ONE 

At  Philip,  head  of  Cesarea  Philippi, 
Tetrarch  of  all  these  eastern  provinces, 
Branded  across  the  face  indelibly 
By  the  weak  fingers  of  a  mocking  girl. 
She  lets  the  manuscript  fall  into  the  brazier  and  it 
flames  up. 
Philip,   beware! 

He  seizes  her  wrist,  wrenching  the  weapon  from  it 
and  flings  her  against  the  wall.  She,  breathless 
and  gasping,  hurls  her  words  at  him  with  difficulty 
as  he  goes  to  the  coals  and  tries  to  recover  the  manu 
script. 

Ay,  take  your  parchment  scroll, 

A  ruined  heap  of  ash,  a  burning  coal. 

PHILIP 

wringing  his  scorched  fingers 
Pssh !  You  shall  feel  the  scourge  of  Rome  for  this. 
He  goes  to  R. 

MARY        laughing  bitterly 
Run,  put  a  poultice  on  your  blistered  fingers. 
Exit  PHILIP,  R 

MARY  speaks  in  a  deep,  changed  voice: 
Now  let  the  scourge  of  Rome  fall,  blight  and  scar! 
I  have  saved  from  infamous  death  my  Ithomar. 
Enter,  from  1  R  L,  ZILLAH,  with  cautious  curiosity. 

[283] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ZILLAH 


You  are  alone? 

MARY 
I  was  alone. 

ZILLAH 

Oho, 

The  languor  of  this  night  oppresses  me. 
She  goes  to  the  shuttered  window.     MARY  rapidly 
forestalls  ZILLAH 's  purpose  to  open  the  lattice. 

MARY 
Stop,  Zillah,  dare  not  touch  that  window  blind ! 

ZILLAH  retreating 

Mercy  of  heaven,  how  you  frighten  me ! 
Look,  there's  a  crimson  mark  upon  your  wrist. 
'Tis  blood. 

MARY 
'Tis  nothing. 

ZILLAH 

going  out,  1  E  L 
Play  of  hawks,  forsooth! 
I  would  not  have  a  lover  like  a  hawk. 
Exit  ZILLAH. 

[284] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     ONE 

MARY 

A  hawk  herself,  a  prowling  claw-like  creature. 
Did  she  surmise  the  signal  of  the  shutter  ? 
Enter  ITHOMAR,  2  E  L. 

ITHOMAR 

I  have  waited  for  you  years  upon  that  roof, 
Tree-tops  and  stars  for  silent  company, 
But  not  your  eyes,  your  voice — How  pale  you  are ! 
You  tremble.     There  is  blood  upon  your  wrist. 

What  evil  thing 

MARY 

'Tis  nothing,  Ithomar. 
A  pin-prick  from  the  fashioning  of  a  garment. 

ITHOMAR 

The  sharp-tongued  mantle-maker  plies  her  needle 
As  shrewdly  as  her  tongue — 
MARY  reels  and  ITHOMAR  goes  to  her. 
MARY 

My  head  is  faint. 

ITHOMAR 

You  breathe  like  one  who  suffocates  for  air — 
He  rushes  to  the  window  and  throws  open  the  shutter. 

MARY 

My  God,  my  God,  you  have  flung  the  shutter  wide ! 
[285] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

ITHOMAR        kneeling  by  her 
Take  heart,  beloved,  wild  beasts  enter  not 
At  open  doors  and  windows  in  your  house. 
A  clank  of  arms  without  and  trampling  of  feet. 

MARY 

Ah,  save  yourself! 
Enter,  R,  a  sound  of  Soldiers. 

ITHOMAR        rushing  to  table 
My  manuscript.     Betrayed! 
The  soldiers  fetter  him  in  silence. 

MARY 

Believe  it  not  of  me ! 

ITHOMAR 

My  manuscript! 

God !    Now  my  eyes  are  open,  I  understand. 
Betrayed,  betrayed,  betrayed  to  shameful  death, 
Trapped  by  the  bright  eyes  of  a  wanton  girl ! 

MARY  kneeling 

Believe  in  me ! 

Exeunt  Guards  with  ITHOMAR. 
He  shall  believe  my  worth. 
Unto  this  vow  I  swear  by  heaven  and  earth. 

CURTAIN. 
[286] 


SCENE  II:  House  of  Mary.  Enter,  R,  RACHEL, 
limping,  and  seeming  to  lead  JOANNA  against  her 
will.  DEBORAH  follows. 

DEBORAH 

We  should  not  let  her  little  feet,  Joanna, 
Pass  the  polluted  threshold  of  this  house. 

JOANNA 
She  begged  to  come. 

RACHEL 
I  dreamed  a  dream  last  night — 

JOANNA 
She's  always  dreaming  dreams  and  seeing  visions. 

RACHEL 

I  dreamed  that  Mary  stood  engulfed  in  dark 
And  called  to  me  to  come  and  lead  her  forth; 
I  hear  her  calling  yet,  "  Oh,  Rachel,  Rachel ! " 

JOANNA 

aside,  to  DEBORAH 
She  is  possessed,  that  child. 
[287] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

RACHEL 

I  went  to  her 

And  led  her  to  a  hill  of  olive-trees, 
And  lo!  upon  the  hill  there  stood  a  Cross. 

JOANNA  going  out 

I  wash  my  hands  of  her  and  of  her  dream. 

DEBORAH  to  JOANNA 

Joanna,  I  will  fetch  her  to  you  soon. 
That  little  child  is  stronger  than  ourselves. 
Exeunt  both  R. 

RACHEL  looking  about 

Her  palace  is  all  glorious  within, 
Like  unto  that  king's  daughter,  clothed  in  gold, 
Concerning  whom  'tis  writ  in  Holy  Book: 
"  Her  clothing  is  of  wrought  gold  wonderful, 
And  all  her  raiment  smells  of  myrrh  and  aloes ; 
God  hath  anointed  her  above  her  fellows 
With  oil  of  gladness  and  with  grace  of  beauty." 
How  happy  she  must  be  in  such  a  house. 
Enter,  2  E  L,  MARY,  her  expression  sad.     She  does 
not  at  first  see  RACHEL. 
Are  you  not  happy  in  this  glorious  house  ? 
MARY  starts  to  perceive  the  child. 
[288] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

MARY 
Rachel! 
She  goes  to  her  and  embraces  her  affectionately. 

RACHEL 

Mary,  I  dreamed  of  you  last  night, 
And  so  I  came.     But  why  are  you  not  happy  ? 
You  tremble  and  your  lids  are  wet  with  tears. 

MARY 

What  did  you  dream  ? 

RACHEL 

I  dreamed  that  you  were  lost, 
And  that  you  called  to  me  to  lead  you  forth. 

MARY 
You  dreamed  that  I  was  lost ! 

RACHEL 

Lost  in  the  dark, 

And  calling,  calling,  till  I  went  to  you 
And  led  you  to  a  hill  of  olive-trees ; 
And  lo !  upon  the  hill  there  stood  a  Cross. 

MARY 
I  am  glad  you  came,  for  I  am  sorrowful. 

RACHEL 
Why  are  you  sorrowful  ? 

[289] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MAEY 

There's  one  I  love 
Betrayed  to  death,  and  I  am  his  betrayer. 

RACHEL 
You? 

MARY 

Yes,  unwillingly  I  was  the  creature. 

RACHEL 
Where  is  he  now  ? 

MARY 

In  prison  at  Antioch. 
For  his  release  I  have  moved  heaven  and  earth. 

RACHEL 

If  you  have  prayed  to  Heaven  and  do  have  faith 
He  will  be  freed,  for  Heaven  is  pitiful. 

MARY 
The  Heaven  I  know  is  stony  blind  and  deaf. 

RACHEL 

I  have  heard  Jesus  say :  "  If  ye  have  faith 
But  as  a  grain  of  mustard-seed,  your  prayers, 
Even  of  the  little  child,  may  move  the  moun 
tains." 

[290] 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

MARY 

It  is  the  good  and  pure  who  pray  like  that, 
The  pure  in  life. 

RACHEL 

I  have  heard  Jesus  say, 
"The  pure  in  heart  are  blest  and  shall  see  God." 

MARY 

Ah,  Rachel,  Rachel,  you  are  but  a  child, 
You  do  not  understand  the  sinning  heart. 

RACHEL 

I  have  heard  Jesus  say  that  though  your  sins 
Be  scarlet  they  shall  be  as  white  as  wool. 

MARY 

Take  me  unto  this  Master,  Rachel,  child. 
If  He  will  wash  my  sins  as  white  as  wool — 

RACHEL  rising 

Let  us  go  straightway. 

MARY 

Nay,  not  yet,  not  yet ! 
Ithomar  may  return  to  me  this  day; 
I  wait  for  messenger  from  Antioch. 
[291] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

RACHEL 

Then  I  will  come  for  you  again,  singing 
For  sign  to  you  beneath  your  window  lattice. 
Dear  Mary,  promise  that  you  will  obey 
The  bidding  of  my  voice  in  song  like  this : 
"  Come  unto  Me, 
Come  unto  Me, 

Come  unto  Me  all  ye  that  labor, 
All  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy-laden. 
And  I  will  give  you  rest, 
And  I  will  give  you  rest. " 
DEBORAH'S  voice  is  heard  outside. 

VOICE 
Rachel! 

MARY 
I  heard  a  voice. 

RACHEL 
'Tis  Deborah  come  for  me. 

MARY 

I  fear  the  woman  Deborah  for  her  curses 
That  have  brought  woe  to  me  and  to  my  house. 
Woe  unto  me  on  whom  her  curses  fell ; 
I  am  proud  no  longer,  I  am  humbled  now — 
I  will  beseech  her  to  remove  the  curse. 
Enter  DEBORAH,  R. 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

DEBORAH 
Rachel! 

RACHEL 
Yes,  Deborah. 

MARY 

rushing  forward  and  catching  hold  of  DEBORAH'S 
skirt 

Woman,  I  pray, 

I  pray  you  to  remove  that  curse  you  set; 
You  cursed  me,  saying  I  should  accursed  be 
With  madness,  blindness,  violent  vexation, 
With  burning  and  astonishment  of  heart. 
Remove  the  curse,  remove  it  from  my  head, 
Remove  the  burden  of  the  heavy  curse. 

DEBORAH 

Nay,  verily,  the  curse  is  of  your  brewing, 
For  you  yourself  have  trodden  the  vintage  out 
From  grapes  of  wrath  into  this  cup  of  trembling. 

MARY 

No,  no,  I  do  beseech  you 


RACHEL 

Deborah,  come. 

Enter  CLEO,  hesitatingly,  at  the  open  door. 
[293] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

DEBORAH 

Another  lost  lamb  straying  to  the  fold. 
Child,  we  will  go. 

RACHEL  to  MARY 

Do  not  forget  my  sign. 
Exeunt,  R,  DEBORAH  and  RACHEL. 

CLEO 
I  saw  him  pass  within  the  porch  one  day 

MARY 

Saw  him!    Oh,  it  is  you  again,  poor  bird, 
Poor  dusty,  wandering  alien. 

CLEO 

Let  me  rest 
Before  I  speak  again — I  am  so  tired ! 

MARY 

leading  her  to  2   E  L 

Here  in  my  chamber  you  shall  rest  and  sleep. 
Exit  CLEO.     MARY  returns. 
Perhaps  she  has  a  sorrow  great  as  mine; 
By  day  it  follows  her,  apace,  apace, 
It  sleeps  with  her  by  night  upon  her  pillow, 
It  wakes  with  her  in  dawn's  first  glimmering  light. 
Enter  1  E  L,  AZUBAH,  her  arms  full  of  flowers, 
boughs  of  white  almond  blossom. 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

MARY 
We  have  no  need  of  those. 

AZUBAH 

laying  down  the  flowers 
Take  courage,  Mary, 

Keep  a  brave  front  before  a  scornful  world. 
How  quickly  men  will  say  your  hour  declines. 

MARY 
I  care  not. 

AZUBAH 

You  must  wear  your  jewels  to-day, 
So  to  deceive  the  hard  heart  of  the  world. 
Exit  AZUBAH,  2  E  L. 

MARY 

Be  careful  not  to  wake  that  sleeping  one. 
She    sits   in   quiet,    awaiting    AZUBAH'S    return. 
AZUBAH  comes  with  the  jewels  in  her  hands  and 
arranges  them  on  MARY'S  neck  and  brow. 

AZUBAH 

Now  smile  above  the  grief  that  eats  your  heart. 
For  when  you  laugh  the  world  will  laugh  with  you, 
They  say,  but  when  you  weep  you  weep  alone. 
[  295  ] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 
Better  salt  tears  than  whited  sepulchres. 

AZUBAH 

Women  are  made  to  laugh  and  to  dissemble; 
I  have  often  laughed  to  ward  away  a  tear. 
Enter  %  E  L,  SHUBAB,  with  flowers. 

MARY 

Then  scatter  flowers  as  you  will,  Azubah, 
And  laugh  to  celebrate  a  day  of  doom. 
Exit  MARY,  1  E  L. 

AZUBAH 

arranging  flowers  about  the  room 
She  is  distraught  with  grief  for  Ithomar, 
And   sleepless   nights   have   sapped   her   former 

courage. 
SHUBAB  follows  her,  handing  the  branches  to  her. 

SHUBAB 

This  morning  when  I  knocked  upon  her  door, 
Her  lamp  still  burned — it  was  a  sinful  waste — 
And  she  sat  so — her  arms  upon  the  table — 
AZUBAH  turns  to  look  at  his  imitation  and  laughs. 

AZUBAH 

In  sooth,  'tis  very  much  the  look  of  Mary. 
She  continues  her  decoration.     SHUBAB  takes  the 
[296] 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

last  branch  and,  after  trying  it  in  several  awkward 
positions  about  the  room,  sticks  it  grotesquely  in 
his  belt  and  assumes  an  attitude.  AZTJBAH  turns, 
with  her  hand  outstretched  for  the  branch. 

AZUBAH 
Give  me  the  branch. 

SHUBAB  childishly 

It's  mine,  you  cannot  have  it. 
He  scampers  away  from  her  and  she  pursues  him  in 
the  spirit  of  a  child.  A  knock  comes  at  the  door  and 
both  stop.  SHUBAB  goes  to  the  door  and  receives  a 
message.  Returning,  he  leaves  the  door  ajar  and 
speaks  with  the  air  of  one  who  has  a  great  secret. 

SHUBAB 

It  was  a  servant  come  from  Ithomar. 
He  said  his  master  was  released  to-day, 
Will  visit  Mary,  she  is  not  to  know. 
He  will  surprise  her  by  his  wonted  knock. 

AZUBAH 

How  glad  I  am,  how  glad  I  am  for  Mary! 
MARY,  entering,  1  E  L,  finds  them  both  laughing. 

MARY 
You  happy  children! 

[  297  ] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

AZUBAH 
Happiness  costs  little. 

MARY 

The  price  of  happiness  is  very  small, 
And  so  the  world  esteems  it  at  its  price, 
With  reckless  hand,  and  loses  it  thereby. 

AZUBAH 
You  would  be  happy  if  you  had  our  cause. 

MARY 

with  gentle  reproach 
Be  happy  with  a  reason  of  your  own 
And  troubled  not  by  my  unhappiness. 
Exeunt,  1  E  L,  SHUBAB  and  AZUBAH.     SHUBAB 
picks  up  the  branch  and  waves  it  triumphantly  as 
he  goes  out. 

MARY 

If  Ithomar  should  return,  should  be  set  free, 
Would  he  accuse  me  as  his  vile  betrayer, 
Or  would  these  days  and  nights  of  travail  for  him 
Bring  forth  at  last  joy  and  forgivingness  ? 
Enter  quietly  by  the  open  door,  R,  ITHOMAR.     He 
stands  silently  till  MARY  sees  him.     She,  too,  is 
silent,  hardly  believing. 

[298] 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

MARY 
Ithomar,  you!     I  have  dreamed  and  prayed  for 

this. 
Why  are  you  silent  ?     Do  you  still  accuse  me  ? 

ITHOMAR 
What  are  these  jewels  on  your  brow,  your  breast  ? 

MARY 

Gifts  of  my  slaves,  for  no  one  is  my  master 
Save  you,  you,  you !     Look  how  I  fling  them  from 

me, 

The  gems  of  tetrarch  Philip,  spurned  they  lie ! 
I  spurn  them  all,  I  hurl  them  from  my  life, 
I'll  none  of  them.     Believe  me,  Ithomar. 

ITHOMAR 

Almost  you  do  persuade  me  to  believe, 
With  that  knit  brow  and  sword-flash  of  the  eyes. 
Where  have  you  learned  such  seeming -elemental 
Turmoil  of  tortured  soul,  tempestuous  Mary  ? 

MARY 

I  have  learned  from  love,  for  love  is  elemental, 
Not  seeming-elemental,  Ithomar. 

ITHOMAR 

Too  great  your  simpleness  to  be  believed. 
Mary,  you  speak  too  simply  for  your  sex. 
[299] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MARY 

My  sex  is  my  misfortune,  not  my  crime, 
Breeding  in  you  such  cruel  disbelief; 
Behold,  all  simply  as  a  child  I  come, 
Begging  you,  Ithomar,  believe,  believe! 
Even  if  you  cast  away  the  love  I  give  you, 
Even  if  you  scorn  me  for  the  love  I  give  you, 
Believe  the  love  is  yours,  believe,  believe! 

ITHOMAR 

Even  before  while  I  was  yet  in  prison 
You  conquered  me  to  uttermost  belief. 

MARY 
I  kiss  your  hand,  my  master  and  my  lord. 

ITHOMAR 

I  will  return  to  you,  bringing  a  pledge 
Inviolate,  to  seal  my  love  for  you. 
Exit  ITHOMAR,  R. 

MARY  joyfully 

You  almond-blooms,  you  voices  of  the  spring, 
He  brings  a  pledge,  a  pledge  inviolate. 
She  draws  the  curtains  before  the  pedestal  and  lays 
branches  before  it. 

[300] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

Oh,  happy  pedestal  to  hold  the  vase ! 

Enter  CLEO,  2  E  L. 

Poor  soul,  unburden  your  sad  tale  to  me. 

CLEO      sitting  on  the  divan 
If  I  could  only  bring  to  memory  back 
The  names  of  things  and  people  long  ago. 
I  feel  like  one  who,  gazing  at  the  sun, 
Has  blotted  all  her  world  to  shapeless  dark; 
So  I,  from  too-long  staring  at  my  sorrow, 
Have  lost  the  sharpness  of  the  edge  of  things. 

MARY 

What  is  your  name  ? 

CLEO 

Even  that  I  have  forgot; 
Sometimes  it  hovers  just  within  my  reach, 
But  when  I  clutch  for  it,  lo!  nothingness. 
The  empty  motes  dance  in  the  mocking  sun. 
I  lived  on  a  fair  island  of  the  sea 
Where  marble  temples  rose,  and  statued  gods 
Were  white  and  wonderful  with  outstretched  arms. 
The  shimmer  of  my  hair  was  like  spun  gold ; 
I  danced  and  sang  beneath  the  orchard  trees; 
There  came  a  lover  to  this  laughing  isle ; 

His  face  was  as  the  visage  of  a  god 

[301] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MARY 
Yes,  yes,  his  name  ? 

CLEO  dully 

I  have  forgot  his  name, 
But  this  I  do  remember,  he  was  born 
In  Cesarea  Philippi,  and  he  spoke 
A  Syrian  tongue,  amazing  sweet  and  strange. 
He  married  me  in  early  blossom  time; 
The  almond-trees  were  white  as  little  brides. 
We  sailed  away  upon  a  rocking  ship 

MARY  intensely 

And  then 

CLEO 

There  came  the  rain  and  stormy  wind, 
Thunder  and  lightning  and  tempestuous  seas, 
The  crash  of  riven  timber,  the  suck  and  swash 
Of  water  and  a  waste  of  human  bodies. 
I  have  never  seen  him  since  that  night  of  horror. 

MARY 
Your  name  is  Cleo! 

CLEO 

Zeus  on  high  be  praised ! 
Are  you  an  oracle  that  you  speak  so  well  ? 
Tell  me  his  name,  you  Delphic  oracle  1 
[302] 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

MARY 
His  name? 

CLEO 

His  name,  that  I  may  find  my  husband. 
MARY'S  face  denotes   the   terrific  struggle  in  her 
mind. 

MARY 
I  cannot  tell  his  name. 

CLEO 

Have  you  not  heard  his  name  ?     Do  you  not  know 
it? 

MARY 
I  do  not  know  it. 

CLEO 

Then  alas  for  me ! 

I  have  been  in  slavery  these  many  years 
With  this  one  hope  before  me  like  a  light 
Gleaming  adown  a  dreary  corridor. 
The  light  gone  out,  I  shall  not  find  my  way. 

MARY 
Have  you  been  true  to  him  these  many  years  ? 

CLEO 

I  have  been  slave  unto  a  Roman  master. 
The  master  of  my  heart  has  been  but  one. 
[303] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 

The  pure  in  heart !    I  understand  the  saying. 
Believe  you,  Cleo,  that  he,  too,  your — husband. 
Has  been  a  loyal  lover  ? 

CLEO,  as  she  answers,  sinks  backward  upon  the 
cushions  and  her  voice  grows  Jainter  in  weariness. 

CLEO 

I  believe  it. 

I  gave  him  once  an  alabaster  vase — 
MARY  starts. 

Sculptured  without  in  mystic  symbolism, 
Holding  within  an  attar  of  perfume 
Rare  as  the  scent  of  grape-vines  in  the  spring; 
I  sealed  the  vase  and  gave  it  to  his  hand, 
Saying  it  was  the  symbol  of  our  love, 
And  he  should  never  lose  or  break  the  vase, 
Nor  ever  part  with  it  till  I  was  dead 
Or  love  was  dead  within  his  heart  for  me. 

MARY 
Or  love  was  dead  within  his  heart  for  you. 

CLEO 

And  then  the  mystic  vase  should  shattered  lie, 
Its  rare  perfume  fled  to  the  unthinking  sky. 

[304] 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

CLEG'S  voice  grows  very  faint,  fades  away,  and  her 
head  falls  upon  the  cushions.  Her  eyes  close  as  if 
in  sleep.  ZILLAH  enters  R,  gaily  clad. 

ZILLAH  shrilly 

Why  do  you  sit  in  such  solemnity  ? 

MARY 

Why  do  you  spread  your  feathers  like  a  peacock  ? 

ZILLAH 

Forsooth,  this  is  the  evening  of  your  triumph, 
When  you  have  bid  your  friends  unto  a  feast. 
With  a  mocking  laugh  she  runs  to  the  alcove,  draws 
the  curtains  to  show  the  empty  pedestal. 
Where  is  the  vase,  the  alabaster  vase  - 
CLEO  sharply  sighs. 

CLEO  in  her  sleep 

The  light  gone  out,  I  shall  not  find  my  way. 

MARY         in  a  hushed  voice 
Do  you  not  see  I  have  a  stranger  here 
Whose  tired  head  is  hurt  by  noisy  laughter  ? 


ZILLAH  going  out 

And  where  is  he,  the  worshipful  - 
[305  ] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MAEY 

Go  out! 

Exit,  1  E  L,  ZILLAH.  MARY  goes  to  CLEO  and 
arranges  the  cushions  under  her.  She  stands 
thoughtfully  looking  at  her. 

Sleep,  weary  wanderer,  fold  your  wings  and  sleep. 
After  a  pause. 

She  sealed  the  vase  and  gave  it  to  his  hand, 
Saying  it  was  a  symbol  of  their  love, 
And  he  should  never  lose  or  break  the  vase, 
Nor  ever  part  with  it  till  she  was  dead 
Or  love  was  dead  within  his  heart  for  her. 
A  pause. 

And  then  the  mystic  vase  should  shattered  lie, 
Its  rare  perfume  fled  to  the  unthinking  sky. 
She  walks  away  pondering.     ITHOMAR'S  knock  at 
the  door. 
His  knock!     He  must  not  see  her,  must  not  find 

her— 

She  conceals  CLEG'S  face  with  a  silk  covering. 
I  lied  to  her  and  I  must  lie  to  him. 
To  found  my  happiness  upon  a  lie  ? 

To  build  a  house  upon  the  unstable  sand 

The  knock  being  repeated,  MARY  opens  the  door. 

ITHOMAR  enters,  followed  by  a  servant  with  the  vase. 

[306] 


ACT    THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

ITHOMAR 

Mary,  I  bring  the  alabaster  vase, 
Glad  symbol  of  our  reunited  love. 
The   servant   holds   the  vase    to  MARY,  but  she 
stands  struck  dumb  and  does  not  take  it. 
Then  from  my  hands  receive  it. 

MARY 

intercepting  his  intention 
Nor  from  you. 

ITHOMAR  signals  to  his  Servant  to  leave  them.  He 
sets  down  the  vase  and  leaves  the  room,  R,  with  an 
obeisance. 

ITHOMAR 
O  Sphinx,  unlock  the  riddle. 

MARY 

Ithomar, 
She  sealed  the  vase  and  gave  it  to  your  hand — 

ITHOMAR 
The  answer  of  the  Sphinx  is  still  a  riddle. 

MARY 
You  told  me  once  of — Cleo — and — her  isle — 

ITHOMAR 

The  long  ago! 

[307] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY 
But  should  the  long  ago  come  back  to  life — 

ITHOMAR 
Waste  not  your  thought  on  the  impossible. 

MARY 

Nay,  answer  me. 

ITHOMAR 

shaking  himself  free  of  MARY 
Grimly. 

Then  have  your  answer,  Mary  Magdalen. 
She  was  my  wife,  and  you — are — what  you  are. 
MARY  sinks  into  a  heap  on  the  floor  and  rocks  to  and 
fro,  wailing.     ITHOMAR  stands  with  folded  arms 
and  an  ironical  smile  on  his  face. 

MARY 

God,  am  I  not  as  other  women  are  ? 
I  would  be  loved  as  other  women  are ; 
Have  I  not  yearned  for  wifehood's  high  estate, 
Have  I  not  burned  for  holy  motherhood  ? 
When  Rachel's  arms  went  round  my  neck  that  day, 
Did  not  my  heart  cry  out  for  motherhood, 
Exceeding  bitter  travail  of  the  soul 
For  little  arms  and  little  lips  to  cling, 
And  little  feet  to  nestle  in  my  hand  ? 
[308] 


:  i 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

ITHOMAR  coldly 

What  new  insanity  is  this,  my  Cyprian  ? 
Come,  take  the  vase  and  give  me  warmer  wel 
come 
Than  tears  and  questionings  and  repentances. 

MARY 

passionately 

The  vase  is  hers,  is  hers  who  gave  it  you. 
She  points  to  CLEG'S  quiet  figure. 
She  sealed  the  vase  and  gave  it  to  your  hand — 
ITHOMAR  goes  to  CLEO  and  looks  at  her,  turning 
away  the  covering  from  her  face. 
Saying  it  was  a  symbol  of  your  love, 
And  you  should  never  lose  or  break  the  vase, 
Nor  ever  part  with  it  till  she  was  dead, 
Or  love  was  dead  within  your  heart  for  her. 
ITHOMAR   kneels  by  CLEO  and  after  a  while  leans 
forward  to  kiss  her  forehead.     He  buries  his  face 
on  her  breast,  but  she  does  not  stir.     Then  he  rises 
and  turns  to  MARY. 

ITHOMAR  solemnly 

Come  here! 

MARY  advances  slowly  as  if  in  fear. 
Behold  how  quietly  she  sleeps. 
[309] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MARY 

Poor  wandering  bird,  how  quietly  she  sleeps ! 
You  scarce  would  know  her  bosom  heaved  at  all, 
Your  golden  Cleo  of  the  Rhodian  isle. 

ITHOMAR 
It  is  the  sleep  from  which  there  is  no  waking. 

MARY      crying  out  sharply 
Dead !     Then  I  killed  her  with  that  lie  of  mine ! 
Leave  us  alone  together,  Ithomar! 

ITHOMAR 

I  have  come  from  prison  to  your  arms,  O  Mary. 
Where  shall  I  go,  how  shall  I  wait  for  you  ? 

MARY 
Where  shall  you  wait  for  me  ? 

ITHOMAR 

There  are  two  doors, 

One  leads  to  darkness,  one  into  your  chamber. 
MARY  hesitates,,  looking  from  R  to  L.     Then  in 
silence  opens  the  door  to  her  chamber.     Exit  ITHO 
MAR,  2  E  L.     MARY  closes  the  door  after  him  and 
goes  to  CLEO. 

MARY 

How  changed  her  look  since  May-time  long  ago, 
His  golden  Cleo  of  the  Rhodian  isle. 
[310] 


ACT     THREE:     SCENE     TWO 

"  It  is  the  sleep  from  which  there  is  no  waking.  " 
I  am  glad  she  does  not  know  that  he  forgot. 
She  kneels. 

I  killed  her,  killed  her  with  that  lie  of  mine. 
Forgive  me,  Cleo,  for  the  cruel  lie. 
Dead  face  of  Cleo,  smile  upon  me  once, 
Smile  once  for  sign  you  have  forgiven  me. 
How  sad  and  stern  those  patient  lips  of  death ! 
She  rises  and  goes  about  the  room.,  gathering  up  the 
branches  and  heaping  them  on  CLEO. 
Are  they  as  sweet  as  almond-flowers  of  Rhodes  ? 
Dead  Cleo,  answer  me : 

RACHEL'S  voice  is  heard  singing  beneath  the  win 
dow. 

RACHEL/S   VOICE 
Come  unto  Me, 
Come  unto  Me, 

MARY  listens,  goes  to  the  vase,  lifts  it  on  high. 
Come  unto  Me  all  ye  that  labor, 
All  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy-laden — 
MARY  advances  a  step  or  two  to  her  outside  door  and 
then  to  her  chamber  door. 

MARY 

Lo,  shall  I  sell  myself  for  this,  this  vase  ? 
[311] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

RACHEI/S  VOICE 
And  I  will  give  you  rest, 
And  I  will  give  you  rest, 
MARY  sets  the  vase  down  at  CLEG'S  feet. 

RACHEL'S  VOICE 
Come  unto  Me — 
MARY  goes  to  the  R,  the  outside  door  and  opens  it. 

MARY 

What  were  those  piercing  words  of  Jesus  Christ  ? 
"  If  any  man  will  follow  after  Me —  " 
She  goes  out. 

CURTAIN 
END  OF  ACT  III 


[312] 


ACT  IV 

SCENE  I — House  of  Joanna,  the  Wool-Dyer.     A 

plain  and  humble  upper  chamber.     Window  B, 

looking  down  on  street.     Door  c,  leading  below. 

Door  L,  leading  to  bedroom.     Dyeing-vats,  a  pole, 

lines  across  a  corner  with  stubbs  hung  to  dry,  a 

pile  of  other  stuffs  ready  for  the  vats. 

DISCOVERED — JOANNA,   wringing   out  garments. 

RACHEL  on  floor,  playing  with  an  Egyptian  doll  of 

wood. 

JOANNA 

Rachel,  I  have  a  mind  to  call  her  again  to  see  if 
she  be  yet  stirred  out  of  bed.  Folk  who  wish 
to  turn  good  may  well  begin  by  getting  up 
betimes.  'Tis  as  much  a  shining  mark  of 
virtue  as  to  pray  long  prayers  on  street  cor 
ners. 

Calling. 

Mary,  Mary! 

MARY'S  VOICE 

Yes,  Joanna,  I  am  coming. 
[313] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

JOANNA 

We  will  see  how  she  relishes  plain  fare  and  the 
vats  of  the  wool-dyer. 

RACHEL 

She  has  given  away  to  the  poor  all  her  beautiful 
possessions. 

JOANNA 
All  but  that  graven  image  of  a  vase.     She  hoards 

it  in  the  room  yonder. 
Enter,  L,  MARY,  soberly  clad. 

MARY 
Lo,  here  I  am,  Joanna,  for  my  labor. 

JOANNA 
You  to  help  me  with  those  white  hands  of  yours ! 

MARY 

Yes,  for  to-day  a  new  life  is  begun, 
And  the  old  life  is  put  behind  me  far. 

JOANNA  confidentially 

What,  then,  of  this  fine  lover  Ithomar  ? 

MARY 

I  cannot  put  him  from  my  life,  Joanna, 
The  thought  of  him.     Is  that  a  wrong,  Joanna  ? 

[314] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

JOANNA 

If  he  thinks  a  deal  of  you,  as  we  plain  folk  look  at 
it,  to  speak  straight  out  of  my  mind  without 
regard  to  what  the  learned  rabbis  might  have 
to  say,  sooth,  the  best  way  for  a  woman  as  has 
gone  wrong  is  to  marry  herself  to  any  one  who 
will  have  her,  and  after  that  to  live  as  honest 
as  ever  she  can.  That's  my  say,  but  I'm 
only  Joanna. 

MARY 

leaning  against  the  wall 
I  fear — he  does  not  think  of  me  like — that. 
JOANNA  picks  up  from  the  floor  a  soiled  white  gar 
ment  and  spreading  it  out  between  her  arms,  sur 
veys  it  thoughtfully.  RACHEL  looks  up  from  her 
play. 

RACHEL 

Was  that  soiled  raiment  once  all  white  and  clean  ? 
Why  do  you  never  steep  them  in  some  dye 
To  make  the  stain  and  soil  all  white  again  ? 

JOANNA 

You  can't  make  a  soiled  thing  like  this  white 
again. 

RACHEL 
Why  not? 

[315] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

JOANNA 

There  is  no  dye  I  ever  mixed  as  will  do  that. 
When  the  soil  and  stain  get  rubbed  in  like 
this,  they  can't  be  made  white  again.  It  must 
stay  soiled,  or  else — 

MARY 
Or  else  ? 

JOANNA 

Throw  it  in  the  fire. 

MARY  sighs. 

Is  this  your  fashion  of  labor,  my  girl  ?  You  will 
have  to  learn  from  us  humble  people  if  you 
earn  so  much  as  your  salt  by  the  toil  of  your 
hands. 

MARY 

Forgive  my  idleness.     I  have  not  learned 

My  lesson  yet  of  humbleness  and  toil. 

JOANNA 

While  I  have  my  hands  in  the  vats  here,  will  you 
go  out  on  the  street  and  fetch  home  for  our 
dinner  some  oil  in  that  cruse  ?  It  is  clean 
gone. 

MARY 

I  would  go  gladly,  but  I  fear  the  streets; 
I  fear  to  be  discovered  by  my  lover; 
[316] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

I  am  not  strong  enough  against  his  tempting. 
Also  I  fear  to  be  tracked  down  by  Philip 
And  fall  beneath  the  scourge  of  his  revenge. 

JOANNA 
Has  Philip  the  tetrarch  cause  to  trouble  you  ? 

MARY 
Ay,  baffled  hate  and  wounded  vanity. 

JOANNA 
I  will  fetch  it,  then,  while  you  keep  the  house  with 

little  Rachel  here. 

JOANNA  prepares  for  her  departure,   taking  the 
cruse  and  wrapping  a  veil  about  her  head. 

MARY 

And  I  will  tend  to  your  work,  Joanna.     When  you 
return,  I  will  show  you  all  I  have  done. 

JOANNA 
Let  that  piece  stand  in  the  purple  a  bit  longer  and 

then  wring  it  dry  and  spread  it  on  the  rope. 
Exit,  c,  JOANNA. 

RACHEL  springing  up 

I  am  forgetting  something,  sitting  here 
;  And  playing  with  a  wooden  painted  doll. 
I  am  forgetting  I  can  run  and  dance. 
[317] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

Is  it  not  wonderful  to  run  and  dance  ? 

Was  it  not  wonderful  that  He  could  heal  me  ? 

MARY  in  awed  tones 

It  was  a  wonder  and  a  miracle. 
Tell  me  again  those  words  He  spoke. 

RACHEL 

He  said : 

"Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  Me  and 
forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of 
heaven. " 

MARY 

I  would  I  were  a  little  girl  again, 
With  you  to  enter  at  that  heavenly  gate. 
Lo,  have  I  not  denied  myself,  O  Christ, 
And  given  all  my  riches  to  the  poor  ? 
What  is  it  stands  between  me  and  that  door  ? 

RACHEL 
Perhaps  it  is  the  alabaster  vase. 

MARY 

Must  I  deny  myself  even  that,  O  Lord, 
Uttermost  symbol  of  the  love  of  earth  ? 
He  said :  "  Whoso  would  follow  after  Me, 
Let  him  deny  himself,  take  up  his  cross — 

[318] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

RACHEL 
I  am  so  happy  this  morning,  Mary,  because  I  can 

run  and  dance. 
Play  with  me  a  little  while.     Run  with  me. 

MARY 

You  dear  child,  I  will  play  with  you. 
She  leads  her  to  a  corner  of  the  room. 
We  will  start  here,  so,  and  see  which  reaches  first 

that  far  corner.     No,  no. 
As  RACHEL  commences  running. 
We  must  begin  together.     I  will  count.     One, 

two,  three.     At  the  three,  we  run.     Now! 

One.     Two.     Three! 
They  run  and  RACHEL  wins. 
You  have  beaten  me  in  the  race. 

RACHEL 
May   little   children    run    in    heaven?      Let   us 

try  it  again.      I  will  count.      One.      Two. 

Three! 

They  run  and  RACHEL  again  wins,  according  to 
MARY'S  purpose. 
I  am  sorry  you  lost  again.     I  will  try  not  to  run 

so  fast  next  time.     What  else  do  children 

play? 

[319] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

MARY  thinking 

I  must  think.  I  have  almost  forgotten  children's 
games.  There  was  a  game  we  called  "hunt- 

ing." 

RACHEL 
What  is  that  ? 

MARY 

You  are  the  hunted  and  I  am  the  hunter.  This 
chair  is  your  house  and  here  you  are  safe. 
Now  I  will  pursue  you  and  when  you  are 
tired  you  may  seek  refuge  in  your  house. 

RACHEL 

I  think  I  shall  like  this  game  of  "  hunting.  " 
They  play  at  it  with  many  feints  and  subterfuges, 
till  RACHEL  puts  her  hand  on  the  chair,  breathless. 
Home! 

MARY  breathless 

You  are  safe. 

RACHEL 
Once  more! 

MARY 
I  have  not  run  so  since  I  was  a  little  girl. 

RACHEL 

You  are  not  very  old,  are  you  ?    You  looked  al 
most  like  a  little  girl  when  you  were  running. 
Joanna  never  plays  with  me. 
[320] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

MARY 
Joanna!     In  truth,  Rachel,  you  have  made  me 

forget  Joanna's  bidding. 
She  goes  to  the  vat. 
These  were  to  be  wrung  dry. 
She  peers  in  doubtfully. 
How  shall  I  get  them  out  ? 

RACHEL 
Joanna  puts  her  hands  in  and  wrings  them — so. 

MARY 

Plunge    my   hands    into    that    fearsome    liquid! 

Rachel !     If  I  had  a  stick  to  lift  them  by. 
She  looks  about,  and  while  she  does  so  there  comes  a 
sound  of  trumpets  from  the  street.     RACHEL  runs 
to  the  window  and  stands  on  the  little  balcony  that 
abuts  on  the  sill. 

RACHEL 
Come  to  the  window,  quick! 

MARY 

I  dare  not  come.     I  dare  not  show  myself  to  all 
the  street. 

RACHEL 
They  celebrate  the  Feast  of  Tabernacles. 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

Such  palms  and  banners !    Such  young  men  and 

maidens ! 
Such  silver  trumpets! 

MARY 

Do  you  see  Azubah  ? 
But  I  forget  you  do  not  know  Azubah. 
If  I  could  only  find  her,  win  her  to  me, 
Win  her  away  from  Philip  masterful, 
The  baleful  star  that  dogs  her  destiny. 
She    approaches    the    balcony.     RACHEL    makes 
place  for  her,  retiring. 
Azubah!    Now  I  see  her,  borne  aloft 
Like  a  fair  idol  by  the  tetrarch's  side. 
Ah,  would  she  turn  her  head ! 

RACHEL 

plucking  at  MARY  in  fear 
That  man  has  seen  you. 

MARY         waving  her  hand 
Azubah !  she  has  seen  me  and  she  answers. 
She  returns  to  the  room  again  as  the  sound  of  the 
procession  grows  fainter. 

RACHEL 
The  wolf  man  saw  you  and  he  marked  the  window. 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

Now  they  have  turned  the  corner.     Now  they 
vanish. 

MARY 

Little  Azubah  will  corne  back  to  me 
And  I  will  bring  her  to  the  Master's  feet. 
Perhaps  even  yet  salvation  is  for  her, 
Though  not  for  me,  because  my  sins  are  legion. 

RACHEL 
Who  was  that  wolfish  man  who  glared  at  you  ? 

MARY 
I  did  not  see  him. 

RACHEL 

With  the  beady  eyes. 
Two  teeth  like  tusks  of  swine,  a  yellow  turban. 

MARY 

Elon !    Elon,  the  parasite  of  Philip, 
Of  all  my  foes  the  most  implacable, 
Since  that  I  trapped  him  by  his  own  device 
And  sent  him  howling  like  a  dog  to  prison. 
She  goes  to  RACHEL  impressively. 
Rachel,  if  any  harm  should  come  to-day, 
Fear  not  for  me,  I  fear  not  for  myself. 

RACHEL 
Oh,  Mary,  Mary! 

[323] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MARY 

If  the  soldiers  find  me, 
To  apprehend  me  under  Philip's  ban, 
Say  not  one  word  to  them  in  my  defence. 

RACHEL 

I  am  so  strong  I  will  defend  you  stoutly — 
A  sound  of  men's  voices  without.  MARY  runs  to 
the  door  and  bolts  it.  RACHEL  closes  the  windows 
and  bars  them.  MARY  goes  to  the  vats  and  busies 
herself  with  work  while  RACHEL  plants  herself 
watchfully  by  the  door. 

VOICE 
In,  let  us  in! 

MARY  to  RACHEL 

I  swear  they  will  not  know  me. 
Speak  not  my  name. 

VOICE 
We  come  from  Philip,  tetrarch. 

MARY 

Speak  not  my  name ;  I  am  Joanna,  dyer. 

VOICE 

as  they  hammer  on  the  door 
In,  let  us  in !     We  come  from  Philip,  tetrarch. 
[  384  ] 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

RACHEL 

What  do  you  want  ?     This  is  Joanna's  house. 

VOICE 
Unbolt  the  door  or  we  will  break  it  down. 

EACHEL 

throwing  her  little  form  against  the  door 
I  will  not  let  you  enter. 

MARY 

Let  them  enter. 
Child,  you  will  anger  them. 

RACHEL  withdrawing 

Then  break  the  door, 
But  I  will  not  unloose  the  bolts  for  you. 

MARY 

Rachel,  for  my  sake,  hide  yourself.     Stay  not. 

RACHEL 

Nay,  I  will  stay  with  you. 

The  door  is  burst  open  and  several  Soldiers  enter, 

the  foremost  being  JUDE  and  DATHAN. 

JUDE 

Where  is  the  brat  that  barred  us  ? 

RACHEL 

Here  I  am. 
[325] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

DATHAN 

Leave  her  alone.     Our  quest  is  bigger  game. 
We  come  to  seize  one  Mary  Magdalen. 
Where  is  she  ?     Let  us  search. 
To  the  others. 

Guard  ye  the  door. 

MARY  stands  with  her  back  to  them,  stirring  in  a 
stolid  way. 

RACHEL 

This  is  Joanna's  house,  the  curtain-dyer. 
MARY  turns  to  them  but  keeps  her  hands  behind  her. 

MARY 
It  is  Joanna's  house  and  here  I  am. 

JUDE  boisterously 

Joanna,  Anna,  Hannah,  curtain-dyer, 
It  matters  not. 

MARY 

Search  for  this — other  woman. 

They  begin  the  search. 

Much  do  I  marvel  at  your  insolence. 

They  pass  into  the  other  apartment    and   return 

again.     MARY  keeps   her   hands   studiously  from 

their  view. 


ACT     FOUR:     SCENE     ONE 

DATHAN  to  JUDE 

This,  to  my  certain  knowledge,  was  the  house 

JUDE 

They  told  us  she  was  decked  in  gay  apparel, 
With  stones  of  many  colors  and  white  hands. 

DATHAN 

This  woman  here  who  calls  herself  Joanna 
She  is  not  like  to  be  the  one  we're  after. 

JUDE  ironically 

Joanna,  the  white-handed,  the  wool-dyer! 

MARY 
Now  shame  upon  you  to  mock  my  honest  toil ! 

JUDE 
Doubtless  we  erred  in  singling  out  this  chamber. 

DATHAN 

Yet  do  I  marvel  that  they  barred  us  out. 
As  they  go  out,  they  pass  RACHEL  and  JUDE  raises 
his  hand  as  if  to  cuff  her. 

JUDE 

It  was  this  brat. 

RACHEL  cries  out  in  fear  and  MARY  turns  quickly, 
her  hand  raised  in  impulsive  defence.  The  men 
catch  a  glimpse  of  its  whiteness. 

[327] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

DATHAN 

Look  there !    Those  lily  hands ! 
Nay,  they  were  never  dipped  in  Tyrian  dyes. 
JUDE  seizes  RACHEL  roughly. 
The  child  will  tell  the  truth:  I'll  force  it  from  her. 
Who  is  that  woman  ? 
She  is  silent,  looking  piteously  to  MARY. 
You  need  not  lie  to  me. 

RACHEL 
I  will  not  lie  to  you. 

JUDE 

What  is  her  name? 
Is  she  Joanna  or  some  other  woman  ? 
He  grasps  RACHEL'S  wrist  so  that  she  utters  a  cry 
of  pain. 

MARY         stepping  forward 
I  am  that  Mary,  called  of  Magdala — 

CURTAIN 
END  OF  SCENE  I 


[328] 


ACT   IV 

SCENE  II — THE  PORCH  OF  THE  TEMPLE — Jesus 
has  written  on  the  ground  and  gone  within  the 
Temple,  leaving  outside  the  group  of  Elders  with 
the  sinning  woman,  who  is  MARY.  PHILIP  her 
accuser,  stands  a  little  apart,  fiercely  scowling. 
MARY  is  the  centre  of  the  group.  Each  man  stands 
in  the  attitude  and  expression  in  which  he  was 
when  the  words  of  Jesus  were  spoken.  Reproach, 
self-satisfaction,  amazement,  scorn,  anger,  guilt,  are 
expressed.  Some  look  toward  the  spot  on  the 
ground  where  the  words  are  traced.  An  old  man 
is  deciphering  them  with  his  staff. 

PHILIP  after  a  pause 

Silenced  so  soon  by  your  fanatic  here, 
With  his  mysterious  writing  on  the  ground ! 
She  is  upon  your  hands,  ye  priests  and  elders, 
This  sinning  woman  of  your  tribe  and  city. 
Judge  ye  among  yourselves  the  Magdalene, 
The  rankness  and  flamboyance  of  her  sins. 
Exit  PHILIP  with  his  guard.     The  tableau  is  held 
for  an  appreciable  moment.     Then  each  man,  in 
[329] 


MARY  MAGDALEN 

turn,  goes  to  the  writing,  reads  it  in  silence,  and  as 
silently  passes  out.  RACHEL  comes  dancing  down 
the  street,  a  song  upon  her  lip.  She  sees  the  solemn 
group  and  MARY,  with  bowed  head  in  their  midst. 
She  is  hushed  and  pauses,  her  finger  to  her  lip. 
The  last  man  goes  out,  leaving  MARY  and  RACHEL 
together. 

MARY 

Come  to  me,  Rachel 
Rachel  runs  to  her  and  MARY  weeps. 

RACHEL 

Do  not  cry,  dear  Mary. 

Look  how  He  healed  me  of  my  grievous  hurt. 
Also  He  shall  have  power  to  cure  your  soul. 

MARY 

How  fierce  they  were  against  me  till  He  spoke; 
"  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee;  sin  no  more.  " 
But  ah,  He  did  not  know,  He  could  not  know 
The  multitude  of  my  sins. 

RACHEL 
Yet  I  have  heard 
"  Though  they  be   scarlet  He  shall  wash   them 

white." 

Enter  DEBORAH  from  the  R  side  of  the  roadway. 
[330] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

MARY  shrinking 

Shield  me  from  her,  shield  me  from  Deborah ! 

DEBORAH  gently 

I  would  not  now  condemn  you,  Magdalene, 
For  some  of  us  in  weakness  lose  our  way 
And  some  of  us  through  hardness  of  the  heart. 
I  pray  to  God  that  He  may  save  us  both. 
Exit  DEBORAH  into  the  temple.     MARY  looks  at 
RACHEL  with  inquiry. 

RACHEL 

rising  to  follow  DEBORAH 
She  also  sat  at  Jesus'  feet  to-day. 
Exit  RACHEL  in  the  temple. 

MARY 

For  some  of  us  through  weakness  lose  our  way 
And  some  of  us  through  hardness  of  the  heart. 
If  He  has  wrought  this  miracle  with  her, 
Melting  her  stony  hate  to  gentleness, 
I  do  believe  in  His  miraculous  power 
To  wash  away  the  multitude  of  my  sins. 
Enter,  L,  AZUBAH,  carrying  on  her  shoulder  the 
alabaster  vase.     She  sets  it  on  the  step  of  the  temple 
by  MARY. 

[331] 


MARY     MAGDALEN 

MARY 

Azubah,  let  us  wait  together  here 

Until  the  Christ  come  forth  from  out  the  temple. 

AZUBAH 

I  hurried  and  my  heart  beat  furiously, 
For  Philip  followed  hard  upon  my  steps. 
Enter,  R,  ITHOMAR. 

MARY 

Stay  by,  Azubah,  help  me  to  be  strong. 

ITHOMAR 

Mary,  my  house  and  heart  are  open  to  you. 
You  that  erstwhile  have  called  me  lord  and  master, 
Obey  the  passionate  mandate  of  your  master. 

MARY 
I  have  another  and  a  higher  Master. 

ITHOMAR 
A  ten  days'  foolish  flare  of  infatuation. 

MARY 

Forever  and  forever,  saith  my  soul. 
A  silence. 

ITHOMAR 

with  a  change  of  tone 

Mary,  my  house  and  heart  are  hungry  for  you. 
Take  pity  on  me  and  relent,  relent 
[332] 


ACT    FOUR:     SCENE     TWO 

MARY 

I  am  filled  with  infinite  pity,  Ithomar. 
For  you  and  for  myself  and  for  us  all. 

ITHOMAR 

Give  then  your  answer  to  my  thirsting  soul. 
AZUBAH  whispers  and  points  to  the  temple  door. 

AZUBAH 
Mary,  He  comes. 

MARY  lifting  the  vase 

I  hold  it  in  my  hands, 
Your  answer,  Ithomar,  the  mighty  Answer. 
The  door  of  the  temple  opens  and  chanting  voices 
are  heard.     The  disciples  come  out  and  then  a 
great  radiance  is  seen  that  blurs  everything.    MARY 
lifts  the  vase  on  high  in  the  attitude  of  one  who  is 
about  to  let  it  fall. 
Take  thou  the  vase,  the  broken  vase,  O  Lord ! 

CURTAIN 


END    OF    PLAY 


[333] 


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